Intersolar Europe 2010

Well-positioned: SCHOTT Solar looks to the future with optimism

·           Business is developing positively - Growth in sales expected for the current fiscal year

·           Successful execution of a global project on reducing the costs of manufacturing

·           Entry into the photovoltaic project business

·           More strategic alliances in planning

Munich/Mainz, June 10, 2010 – SCHOTT Solar AG announced today that the company expects to see a further growth in sales for its current fiscal year. The two divisions Photovoltaics (PV) and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) are the driving forces behind this positive development. Even during its last fiscal year, SCHOTT Solar was one of only very few solar companies that managed to buck the trend and achieve significant sales growth and thus increase its market share. SCHOTT Solar has managed to achieve significant improvements on the cost side, as well. For instance, a global project aimed at reducing the costs of manufacturing has helped the company to realize considerable savings potential. SCHOTT Solar is also planning to enter into the photovoltaic project business and further strengthen its business model by forming new strategic alliances.

“We are extremely pleased with how our business has been developing over the last few months, considering the rather difficult political environment. Our steady growth in sales clearly underscores the high level of confidence that our customers have in our durable products. By entering into the photovoltaic project business, we are taking a strategically important step towards opening up additional sales channels, in addition to our well-established sales through distributors,” explains Dr. Martin Heming, CEO of SCHOTT Solar AG.

Over time, the company plans to achieve roughly 20 percent of its total sales volume with its project business. Here, SCHOTT Solar will be relying for the most part on working together with partners. Besides the direct sales of modules to project customers, SCHOTT Solar will also be providing support in areas like technical planning, project development and financing of projects. 

Over the next few years, SCHOTT Solar AG plans to significantly increase the capacities of its global manufacturing network. A quality control system that the company has developed itself will be integrated into manufacturing to help ensure that the same high product standards at SCHOTT Solar are observed at all sites.   

SCHOTT Solar will be exhibiting a whole range of innovative products and technologies at Intersolar Europe in Munich. The company thus considers itself to be well-prepared for the future.

SCHOTT Solar has also made it clear that the company is open to other types of strategic cooperation. “In such a fast-paced market environment, we need maximum flexibility and a global network of strong partners. Only then will we be able to continue to successfully live up to our responsibility of achieving further cost reductions,” explains Dr. Martin Heming, CEO of SCHOTT Solar AG.