Cell Processing

High-tech manufacturing equipment firm, Manz AG reported preliminary record 2014 full-year financial results while incurring a €22.5 million depreciation hit on its solar segment and shifting c-Si PV equipment operations to China.

Taiwanese solar cell producer, Solartech Energy Corp reported flat sales for January, 2015, compared to the previous month.

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) reported a decline in solar cell and PV module sales in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Chinese PV manufacturer Zhongli Talesun has officially started construction of a 500MW integrated solar cell and modules assembly plant in the Thai-China Industrial Park in Rayong, Thailand.

The director of the US Department of Energy’s (DoE) solar cost cutting programme has hailed the “phenomenal jobs growth rate” that the US solar industry has enjoyed in recent times.

After a strong recovery in solar cell shipments at the end of 2014, Taiwan-based cell producer, Gintech Energy reported a 29.8% month-on-month sales decline for January, 2015.

The largest merchant solar cell producer, Neo Solar Power (NSP) reported a dramatic drop in sales for January 2015.

Hanwha SolarOne has completed the acquisition of Hanwha Q CELLS.

Insolvent PV equipment and wet processing specialist, RENA GmbH has been acquired by Swiss private equity firm, Capvis for an undisclosed sum.

India’s solar manufacturing sector appears to have received a boost, with solar cell manufacturer Indosolar signing a wafer supply agreement worth US$200 million with Korean company Osung.