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Camarillo, June 25, 2007. After the acquisition of Shell Solar one year ago, the expansion of the SolarWorld production site in Camarillo is taking shape: In the last few weeks the first machines for the new higher speed solar module line were installed, including automated precision robots. Various suppliers were on-site to perform these installations.
The manufacturing will be transferred from the old machines to the new production plant step-by-step over the coming months. The installation of the new higher performance machines will increase the module production capacity in Camarillo from 35 to 100 megawatts per year. SolarWorld will invest about $ 26 million in the Camarillo site by the end of this year. The building that previously housed the module assembly line will be used for expanding the warehouse capabilities, which will allow for faster shipping of customer orders.
At the same time, another expansion is taking place in Camarillo: SolarWorld California, the Sales division that services the US market, has grown and moved into a newly reconstructed building.
These two expansions happen at the same time when the roots of the company reach back exactly 30 years: In 1977, the solar company was founded, which today is known as SolarWorld Industries America. On June 28th, SolarWorld employees celebrate these successful years together with their customers, friends and guests from the local business and political communities.
About SolarWorld AG: The SolarWorld Group is among the top trio of companies competing in the solar power industry worldwide. The group is dedicated exclusively to the core business of solar energy, combining all stages of the solar value chain, from the raw material silicon to turn-key solar power plants. The company operates production facilities in Germany, Sweden and the USA. Among the currently most important sales markets are Germany, the United States and in the rest of Europe especially Spain. In addition, sales offices operate in South Africa and Singapore, completing the international alignment of the group. The responsibilities of these offices include the sale of rural solar power solutions that can make an important contribution to the fair and sustainable economic development of the southern hemisphere.
In Freiberg, Saxony, the group operates one of the world's most advanced integrated solar production facilities where the SolarWorld Group turns solar grade silicon into high quality solar wafers, solar cells and solar modules. SolarWorld AG offers a broad and diverse range of products from modules for grid-coupled and grid-independent power generation all the way to a whole class of complete solar power systems for decentralized and centralized electricity generation. After the IPO at the end of 1999, the company developed within a few years to a fully integrated solar technology group, increasing its workforce to more than 1,350 employees by the beginning of 2007. SolarWorld AG is listed at the stock exchange in the technology index TecDAX, in the Dow Jones STOXX 600 as well as the international MSCI index and the sustainability index NAI.
Contact:
Anne Schneider SolarWorld Industries America
4650 Adohr Lane, Camarillo, CA 93012
Phone 805 388 6285
Cell 805 444 7425 / www.solarworld-usa.com / a.schneider@solarworld-usa.com
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