Manufacturing

PV and polysilicon equipment specialist centrotherm Group reported a return to profitability in 2014 on the back of recovering sales of €189.2 million, driven by an upturn in revenue from PV equipment sales and progress on building a polysilicon plant in Qatar.

Chinese manufacturer Suntech has confirmed that a proposed new manufacturing facility in South Africa remains on hold until details of the fourth round of the country’s national renewable energy programme are finalised.

Polysilicon producer, Silicor Materials, has signed German conglomerate, SMS Siemag, to equip and fit out a planned new low-cost plant in Iceland.

Laser equipment specialist LPKF reported strong sales to the solar industry in 2014, despite limited capital spending in the sector.

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) and PV Lighthouse have officially announced the development and operation of the world’s first free access online solar cell fabrication simulator, designed to replicate real world production processes.

Thin-film maker Hanergy, which has been the subject of recent press reports over “unusual” share trading, has opened a number of retail stores in its homeland, China.

Solarwatt, a German-based module manufacturer, has officially acquired the French subsidiary of German Centrosolar.

Major merchant solar cell producer Neo Solar Power (NSP) reported a modest decline in revenue for February 2015 due to the shorter working month and Chinese New Year.

Flexible CIGS thin-film producer Ascent Solar Technologies reported 2014 annual revenue of US$5.33 million on net losses of US$43.3 million.

Major tier-one PV manufacturer JinkoSolar has finally said its first major overseas solar cell and module manufacturing facility is based in Penang, Malaysia.