Amtech, Korean firm to partner on solar cell manufacturing technology
The Business Journal of Phoenix, April 20, 2007
source:
http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2007/04/16/daily44.html
Amtech Systems Inc. has signed a 10-year licensing deal with a Korean firm to market an existing product and to develop new technology related high-volume solar cell manufacturing, company officials said Friday. Tempe-based Amtech Systems (NASDAQ: ASYS) signed the royalty-free deal with PST Co. Ltd. to market its existing plasma-enhanced chemical vapor disposition (PECVD) system, and to develop and manufacture a new model.
The PECVD technology affects what Amtech officials termed one of the most important steps in the solar cell manufacturing process, applying antireflective coating, and they expect it to expand the company’s presence in the growing solar market. Amtech anticipates the new system, to be developed and manufactured by PST, to be competitive with current market leaders.
The deal gives Amtech worldwide rights, except for Korea, and one PST customer that the Korean firm will retain marketing rights to. Amtech will pay PST an initial $300,000, with another $700,000 due upon development of the new system. The initial $300,000 is refundable if development efforts are not successful, Amtech officials said.
Amtech manufactures capital equipment, including silicon wafer handling automation, thermal semiconductor processing equipment and related consumables used in manufacturing semiconductors and solar cells.
For more: www.amtechsystems.com.