Oerlikon solar unit to double capacity, lifts target

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7217067

Oerlikon solar unit to double capacity, lifts target

Friday January 11 2008
By Richard Dobson

TAIPEI, Jan 11 (Reuters) - The solar unit of Swiss technology group Oerlikon said on Friday it would double its production capacity by adding a new plant in Asia and raised its 2008 sales forecast by 17 percent on surging demand.

A market leader in supplying machines that make thin-film solar cells, Oerlikon said it would establish a new production facility in Singapore as producers struggle to meet demand for the technology, the company said in a statement.

"We would have at least equal capacity out of Asia as we do in Europe," said Oerlikon Solar CEO Jeannine Sargent in a phone interview with Reuters.

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"Oerlikon Solar's sales have exceeded this year's planning and are expected to rise to more than 700 million Swiss francs ($636 million) in 2008, with growth rates exceeding 50 percent over the next several years," the company said in an emailed statement on Friday.

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