SolarWorld AG keeps up rate of expansion Logistics capacities to be doubled
23.08.2006 Corporate News SolarWorld AG
(Securities Code No.: WKN 510 840)
(International Securities Identification Number: ISIN DE0005108401)
Corporate News communicated by DGAP. The issuer is responsible for the contents of this Corporate News.
SolarWorld AG keeps up rate of expansion Logistics capacities to be doubled SolarWorld AG (ISIN: DE0005108401) is continuing its group-wide expansion after the take-over of the Shell Group's crystalline solar silicon activities with undiminished vigour. Thus, the topping-out ceremony for the enhanced logistics centre is due to take place on 23 August 2006 at the production site in Freiberg/Saxony. As a result the group will be more than doubling its local logistics capacities. "With the expansion of our 'SolarLogs' we are providing logistics support to the advancing expansion of our production capacities along the entire solar value chain," explains Prof. Dr. Peter Woditsch, spokesman of the board of Deutsche Solar AG. "In this way we guarantee the group companies as well as external customers the usual smooth and rapid supply with SolarWorld products." External customers of the group include for example the German solar cell manufacturer Ersol Solar Energy AG and Sunways AG who recently signed comprehensive ten-year contracts with Deutsche Solar AG for the supply of solar wafers. Breaking ground for silicon production in Rheinfelden In Freiberg the 'SolarLog' handles a large proportion of the international logistics activities of the SolarWorld Group. These include the organization of the logistics flows of solar wafers, solar cells and solar modules from the group’s own production as well as the individual assembly and delivery of complete solar power plants. The most advanced high bin storage technology will be employed for the new building. The total space will grow by 5,500 square metres to 10,500 square metres. The group expects the building work to be completed in October 2006. For the further expansion of the business activities in Freiberg the group has additionally secured the right of first refusal for the purchase of a new plot of land. The area bordering on the existing site offers some 27,000 square metres. In the course of the further expansion the ground breaking ceremony will take place at Rheinfelden (Baden) on 31 August 2006 for the solar silicon production plant of Joint Solar Silicon (JSSI) in which shares are held by both SolarWorld AG and Degussa AG. Journalists are kindly invited to attend the event after registering with us first. SolarWorld Industries America production going up In the meantime the expansion work in the newly acquired production facilities in the USA is proceeding successfully. Since the acquisition of the US locations the capacity utilization of for example solar cell manufacturing at SolarWorld Industries America in Camarillo/California has gone up significantly. For the second half of the year 2006 the group is expecting to double US solar cell production over that of the previous year.
About the SolarWorld group
The SolarWorld group (ISIN: DE0005108401) is a worldwide leader in offering brand-name, high-quality, crystalline solar-power technology. Its strength is its fully integrated solar production. From silicon as the raw material through wafers, cells and modules all the way to turn-key solar systems, including recycling, the group combines all stages of the solar value chain. The central business activity is selling quality modules into the installation and distribution trades and crystalline wafers to the international solar cell industry. Group headquarters are located in Bonn, Germany. Production sites are to be found in Germany, the United States and South Korea. The group’s largest production facilities operate in Freiberg, Germany and Hillsboro in the U.S. state of Oregon. Sustainability is the basis of the group strategy. Under the name Solar2World, the group supports care projects using off-grid solar-power solutions in emerging economies and developing countries, exemplifying sustainable economic development. Worldwide, SolarWorld employs more than 2,700 people. SolarWorld AG has been quoted on the stock exchange since 1999 and today is listed on, among others, the TecDAX, ÖkoDAX, Dow Jones STOXX 600 as well as in the sustainability indices DAXglobal Alternative Energy and NAI.
www.solarworld-usa.com
Media Contact:
Ben Santarris
Public affairs manager
SolarWorld
25300 N.W. Evergreen Road
Hillsboro, OR 97124
Mobile: 503 927 9858
Office: 503 693 5189
ben.santarris(at)solarworld-usa.com