Intelligent Systems Robotics and Automation (ISRA) is expanding its range of production automation and quality inspection technology through the acquisition of PV inspection companies GP Solar and GP Inspect.
Applied Materials reported a surprise GAAP operating loss for its Energy and Environmental Solutions (EES) segment of US$322 million that included impairment charges of US$278 million. Non-GAAP operating loss was US$34 million.
First quarter 2013 new order intake at manufacturing equipment specialist Singulus Technologies may have been at a low level but sales in the quarter increased to €22.8 million.
Yingli Solar has been crowned as the top module producer for the first time as well as the top cell manufacturer in 2012, according to rankings compiled by GTM Research.
US-based three-dimensional solar cell start-up Solar3D is in discussions with the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering to facilitate the fabrication of its new cell technology.
JA Solar has started production of its metal wrap-through (MWT) solar cells in China as a precursor to plans to be announced about its next-generation solar cell technology.
Having defaulted on a bond due to cash flow problems, struggling PV manufacturer, LDK Solar has sold its major crystalline solar cell production plant to an affiliate of the Hefei City government for a nominal US$19.4 million.
JA Solar’s strategy of shifting sales from solar cells to modules has been achieved but at the cost of flat-lining business that started in 2011 and is expected to continue in 2013.
The ‘solar winter endures’ at PV equipment supplier BTU International, opined Paul J. van der Wansem, BTU Chairman and CEO, in a conference call that garnered no financial analyst questions.
