Manz AG — Earnings Release 2009

Dec 10, 2009

News Details

Corporate | 10 December 2009 07:57

Manz Automation AG acquires new orders with a total volume of more than EUR 15 million

Manz Automation AG / Development of Sales

10.12.2009

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• Turnaround in order intake in all divisions
• First orders for new back-end system for crystalline solar cells from
  China
• Agreement with key account for laser scribing equipment for further
  cooperation
• Order book currently totals around EUR 65.3 million

Reutlingen, December 10, 2009 - Manz Automation AG, one of the world's
leading technology providers for the photovoltaic and LCD industries has
acquired several orders with a total volume of more than EUR 15 million
over the past few weeks. The largest orders which the Reutlingen-based
engineering company received were from several key Chinese solar cell
manufacturers. These orders comprise automation systems as well as complete
back-end lines for the production of crystalline solar cells and several
latest generation wafer testers. The back-end production lines include Manz
AG's newly developed HAP 2400 high accuracy printers. These printers have a
throughput of 2,400 solar cells per hour and are the fastest and most
accurate high-precision printers on the market to create front side
contacts for selective emitter cells. In addition, the use of
double-printing technology once again increases the effectiveness of the
solar cells.

These orders were conditional upon the successful research and development
activities in the past few months, together with end-to-end test series in
the company's own technology and training center, which verified that the
newly developed systems both work reliably and increase efficiency. A key
factor behind the issue of this order was also Manz AG's local presence
thanks to its production and service facilities in Asia.

At the same time, the company was also able to acquire a follow-on order
from a major Taiwanese PV manufacturer for the supply of automation
equipment. This order is from a long-standing customer, which continues to
attach great importance to Manz AG's equipment for the further expansion of
its production capacity.

The orders will be shipped in the first half of 2010.

Given the appreciable difficulties in the thin film solar industry, a key
customer of Manz Automation has agreed to restructure an existing order,
having the following effects: Manz will deliver the laser scribing machines
that are already manufactured, resulting in a positive impact on revenues
and income. The company will therefore realize a slight positive one-off
effect, which will be recognized in fiscal year 2009.

Taking the new orders and the agreements with the long-standing key account
into consideration, the order book currently totals EUR 65.3 million.
Additional key orders in the solar and LCD sectors are currently being
negotiated and are expected for the first few months of the coming year.

Dieter Manz, Manz Automation's CEO, believes that the new orders confirm
the R&D strategy and is looking to the future with confidence: 'We have set
new standards with our highly efficient, highly integrated machines. Our
back-end in particular is characterized by several innovations, which
significantly increase the effectiveness of the solar cells and optimize
the production process. This means that we are living up to our role as an
innovation driver, and offer the industry the technologies it needs to be
able to act successfully and profitably on the market after the crisis is
over.' He added: 'The new orders we have acquired revitalize our business
and confirm our corporate strategy of investing in research and development
in particular.'

Company profile: Manz Automation AG

Reutlingen-based Manz Automation AG (ISIN: DE000A0JQ5U3) is one of the
world's leading technology providers in terms of market shares for systems
for automation, quality assurance and laser process technology for the
photovoltaic industry and for automation and wet chemicals for the LCD
industry. The Manz Group's core competences are in robotics, image
processing, laser technology, metallization and wet chemicals as well as
control and drive technology. The Manz Group's key strategic divisions are
photovoltaic (systems.solar), LCD (systems.lcd) and OEM systems
(systems.aico) for automation in various industrial sectors and the life
science industry. The Manz Group has sales and service branches in Germany,
Taiwan, the USA, China, South Korea, India and Spain. In addition, the Manz
Group has its own production facilities in Germany, Slovakia, Hungary,
Taiwan and China.

Investor relations contact:

cometis AG
Ulrich Wiehle / Dominic Großmann
Tel.: +49 (0)611 - 205855-15
Fax: +49 (0)611 - 205855-66
E-Mail: grossmann@cometis.de

10.12.2009 Financial News distributed by DGAP. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de

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Language: English
Company: Manz Automation AG
Steigäckerstr. 5
72768 Reutlingen
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0) 7121 9000-0
Fax: +49 (0) 7121 9000-99
E-mail: info@manz-automation.com
Internet: http://www.manz-automation.com
ISIN: DE000A0JQ5U3
WKN: A0JQ5U
Indices: TecDAX
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, München, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart

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