EANS-News: centrotherm SiTec extends solar value chain to include two key plants for integrated solar production

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corporate news transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer/originator is solely
responsible for the content of this announcement.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Company Information

Subtitle: • Ingot squaring and brick cropping systems based on
state-of-the-art diamond wire saw technology

• Equipment boasts high throughput, best product quality and low operating
costs
• Sales potential in double-digit million euro range

Blaubeuren (euro adhoc) - July 13, 2011 - With the introduction of
ingot squaring and brick cropping equipment, centrotherm SiTec GmbH
is expanding its range of products to include two key equipment items
for integrated ingot and wafer production. The automated ingot
squaring equipment saws the multi-crystalline ingots into bricks. The
brick cropping equipment cuts these bricks to precise corresponding
lengths. Wafers are later produced from these bricks. Both key
equipment from centrotherm SiTec, a company in which the centrotherm
photovoltaics Group bundles its silicon expertise, deploy
state-of-the-art diamond wire saw technology. This ensures that
highest-precision cuts are matched by maximum productivity and
optimized production costs.

An ingot squaring equipment is set up for an annual capacity of up to
4,400 ingots, corresponding to annual production of around 110,000
bricks. The brick cropping equipment that operates two bricks in
parallel reaches an annual capacity of around 40,000 bricks. Compared
with the conventional slurry process, the particular strengths of
these equipments include significantly higher production throughput,
fully automated working processes, short loading and unloading times,
and low space requirements thanks to their compact design and
construction. The slurry process utilizes a mixture of liquid and
silicon carbide to cut ingots and bricks.

"We are pleased with the strong interest in both of these equipments,
which we presented to the global public for the first time at the
Intersolar trade fair", commented Dr. Albrecht Mozer, Managing
Director of centrotherm SiTec, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
centrotherm photovoltaics AG. "Our customers and other interested
parties were impressed by their excellent technology, their high
throughput, product quality and - a factor that is especially
important in an intensely competitive market - low operating costs.
With the market launch of this new saw technology, centrotherm SiTec
is expanding its product portfolio to include a significant element
towards its position as a complete provider for the solar value
chain." The annual sales potential for both equipments amounts to a
double-digit amount in millions of euros.

About centrotherm photovoltaics AG centrotherm photovoltaics AG,
headquartered in Blaubeuren, Germany, is the world's leading
technology and equipment provider for the photovoltaics sector. The
company equips well-known solar companies and new sector entrants
with turnkey production lines and single equipment to manufacture
silicon, ingots and bricks, crystalline solar cells and modules, and
thin film modules. As a consequence, the Group possesses a broad and
well-founded technological basis, as well as key equipment at
practically all steps of the photovoltaics value chain. centrotherm
photovoltaics guarantees its customers important performance
parameters such as production capacity, efficiencies, and completion
deadlines. The Group employs over 1,700 staff members, and operates
in Europe, Asia and the USA. centrotherm photovoltaics achieved
revenue in the 2010 financial year of EUR 624,2 million, EBIT of
EUR 75.4 million. The company is listed in the TecDAX index on the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

Contact:
Saskia Feil
Senior Manager Investor & Public Relations
Tel: +49 7344 918-8890
E-mail: saskia.feil@centrotherm.de

Dr. Torsten Knödler
Manager Public Relations
Tel: +49 7344 918-8898
E-mail: torsten.knoedler@centrotherm.de

Further inquiry note:
Dr. Torsten Knödler
Manager Public Relations
Tel.: 07344 - 918-8898
E-Mail: torsten.knoedler@centrotherm.de

end of announcement euro adhoc
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

company: centrotherm photovoltaics AG
Johannes-Schmid-Str. 8
D-89143 Blaubeuren
phone: +49 (0) 7344 91880
mail: info@centrotherm.de
WWW: http://www.centrotherm.de
sector: Energy
ISIN: DE000A0JMMN2
indexes: TecDAX
stockmarkets: regulated dealing/prime standard: Frankfurt, free trade: Berlin,
Hamburg, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, München
language: English