Oerlikon sees solar ops sales at 600 mln sfr in 2008 on thin cell technology

ZURICH (Thomson Financial) – OC Oerlikon sees significant growth in its solar division thanks to new thin cell technology, with the unit’s 2008 sales estimated at 600 mln sfr, said chief executive Uwe Krueger.
‘We expect strong demand from Europe, the US and Asia. The new technology will drive further, over-proportional growth in our solar segment,’ said Krueger in an interview with Swiss bi-weekly Finanz und Wirtschaft.
Krueger said that additional solar energy production facilities will be built in Asia and the US so that Oerlikon will have the capacity to support sales of 1 bln sfr by the end of 2008.
He ruled out a spin-off of the division for the time being, saying that the solar unit will be positioned as an independent unit within Oerlikon.
‘The question of a spin-off will be put at a later point, if ever,’ said Krueger.
Oerlikon introduced a new thin-film solar cell which can achieve efficiencies of up to 10 pct and higher at a recent industry conference in Milan, the group said earlier.
sarah.fenwick@thomson.com
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