centrotherm photovoltaics confirms innovation potential: subsidiary supplies optical measurement systems to first gigawatt customer

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new product

Blaubeuren (euro adhoc) - Blaubeuren, January 20, 2009 - Following
the successful presentation of its product range of optical
measurement systems at the European Photovoltaic Solar Energy
Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC) in Valencia in September, GP
Solar GmbH, a subsidiary of centrotherm photovoltaics AG, has won its
first major order. About 135 measurement systems have been sold up to
now for use in more than 25 production lines worldwide.

The company is equipping a gigawatt factory under construction in Southeast Asia
with measurement systems from the GP Solar Inspect range for a leading European
solar cell manufacturer. These camera-based systems, which are also referred to
as vision systems, are deployed in the manufacturing quality control of wafers,
solar cells, and modules. Special illumination units allow GP Solar to achieve a
significantly optimized degree of measurement acuity. Thanks to their modular
software structure, the systems can be excellently adjusted to different
customer requirements. They also offer additional performance features that make
them particularly interesting for gigawatt production customers: a fully
automated calibration function enables significant efficiency enhancements
during production. Calibration is monitored permanently online during the
production process, thereby guaranteeing uniform product quality. Settings must
no longer be performed on each individual production line, but can be
transferred precisely from one line to the next. Production data are
administrated centrally within the GP Solar Inspect measurement systems, which
allows data evaluation to be optimized significantly. Internet based data
processing is virtually in real time, thereby enabling quality control to be
established across national borders. The measurement systems consequently
contribute to sustained quality gains, thereby also enhancing the
competitiveness of internationally operating companies. The quality parameters
of the GP Solar Inspect systems are also available as from the commissioning of
production, which allows customers to set up new cell lines in the shortest
possible time.

"We are setting new benchmarks with the GP Solar vision systems, because only
the highest degree of reliability and controllability of the measurement systems
enable standards and guaranteed quality during cell production. This is
important for small series runs, and indispensable for large series production,
in order to manufacture on an optimal cost basis," explained Dr. Peter Fath,
Chief Technical Officer of centrotherm photovoltaics AG and Managing Director of
GP Solar. "The success of the GP Solar Inspect series not only confirms the
strength of the development capabilities of our Constance-based subsidiary, but
also reflects the high degree of innovative potential within the entire
centrotherm Group."

About centrotherm photovoltaics AG centrotherm photovoltaics AG,
headquartered in Blaubeuren, Germany, is one of the world's leading
technology and service-providers for the manufacturing of solar cells
and solar silicon. The broad product range comprises key equipment
and turnkey production lines for crystalline and thin-film solar
cells. The product spectrum is supplemented by reactors and
converters for the manufacturing of solar silicon. centrotherm
photovoltaics guarantees its customers important performance
parameters such as production capacity, degree of efficiency, and
completion deadlines for turnkey lines. Including the most recent
acquisition of centrotherm Thermal Solutions, centrotherm
photovoltaics now employs around 900 persons at its locations at
Blaubeuren, Burghausen, Constance and Dresden. The company operates
globally in Europe, Asia, and the USA. In the 2007 financial year
centrotherm photovoltaics generated revenue of EUR 166.2 million,
EBIT of EUR 21.1 million, and is listed in the TecDax of the
Frankfurt Securities Exchange.

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: centrotherm photovoltaics AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Company contact:

Saskia Schultz-Ebert

Senior Manager Investor Relations

Tel: +49 7344 918-8890

E-mail: saskia.schultz-ebert@centrotherm.de

GP Solar GmbH corporate contact:

Gudrun Kintzel

Press Officer

Tel: +49 7531 282 48441

E-mail: gudrun.kintzel@gpsolar.de

Press contact:

Christina Siebels, Grit Pauli

HOSCHKE & CONSORTEN Public Relations GmbH

Tel: +49 40 3690 50-58 /-31

E-mail: c.siebels@hoschke.de; g.pauli@hoschke.de

Branche: Energy
ISIN: DE000A0JMMN2
WKN: A0JMMN
Börsen: Börse Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard