Manz Automation acquires the exclusive rights of use to Würth Solar's CIGS production technology as part of a know-how licensing and strategic alliance agreement

Manz Automation AG and Würth Solar GmbH & Co. KG today signed a knowhow licensing and strategic alliance agreement. This regulates the exclusive licensing of the production technology for CIGS photovoltaic modules from Würth Solar to Manz. In addition, in the strategic alliance agreement Manz Automation AG has also secured Würth Solar's support for planning and executing the production lines for CIGS modules as well as the commissioning and rampup. A further key component of the agreement is the exclusive access to research results with regard to CIGS modules on glass substrates from the Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg (ZSW - Center for solar energy and hydrogen research), which results from the existing contractual relationship between Würth Solar and ZSW.

This strategic alliance has increased Manz Automation's business model, which means that in the future it will be able to offer its customers an integrated production solution for CIGS solar modules. Manz Automation's Managing Board believes that this step will bring significant revenue and earnings growth from fiscal year 2011.

Manz Automation will publish further details of this strategic alliance as part of a press release on July 19, 2010.