October 9, 2008
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Shayna Watson
swatson@optomec.com
(505) 761-8250
www.optomec.com

Manz Automation AG to Highlight Optomec’s Aerosol Jet Printing of High Efficiency Solar Cells at Solar Power International Conference in San Diego, CA

Manz Integrated Non-Contact Printing System Ready for Pre-production Trials

Albuquerque, New Mexico, 9 October 2008: Manz Automation, AG will showcase Optomec’s patented Aerosol Jet Print technology for higher efficiency solar cells, at the Solar Power International Conference in San Diego, California from October 13th-16th. Manz Automation, Optomec’s strategic wafer automation partner for the Photovoltaic market, has completed the integration of Optomec’s Aerosol Jet Solar Print Engine into their back end manufacturing line. The integrated Manz/Aerosol Jet Print Station is fully operational and is primed for pre-production trials. The system is available in 1200 and 2400 wafer per hour configurations. Manz will be located in booth # 2125.

Optomec’s Aerosol Jet deposition process is able to print much finer collector lines than is currently possible with traditional screen-printing methods. These narrower, high integrity collector lines have higher conductivity and a lower shadowing effect, thereby increasing photovoltaic cell efficiency. Because Optomec’s Aerosol Jet process is non-contact, printing on thinner wafers and with less breakage than screen printing techniques can be realized. In a study conducted by Fraunhofer ISE, absolute efficiency gains of 0.5% to 1.0% and more were achieved using the Aerosol Jet print process in conjunction with a Light Induced Plating (LIP) step.

Dave Ramahi, President and CEO of Optomec states “The Manz/Optomec solar cell print solution will enable our customers to simultaneously realize higher efficiencies and lower costs when compared to traditional screenprinting. This is an important step towards the solar industry’s goal of more cost-effective alternative energy.”

Optomec is the world-leading provider of additive manufacturing systems for high-performance applications in the Electronics, Photovoltaic, Biomedical, and Aerospace & Defense markets. These systems utilize Optomec’s proprietary M³D Aerosol Jet technology and LENS powder-metal fabrication technology. Optomec’s Aerosol Jet platform recently won the IDTechEx award for best printed electronics manufacturing technology. The company has a global customer base of more than 60 users that includes many industry-leading manufacturers.