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Emerging Photovoltaic Manufacturers to Gain from New Global Partnership of Advanced Automation Leaders

One point of contact is the benefit for new PV companies as they gear up manufacturing operations by tapping into the strengths of both partners. Until now, PV startups worked with multiple sources to build their factories. In addition, existing solar manufacturers can more easily move from silicon to thin-film technology. Potential customers include OEMs serving energy, building material manufacturers and consumer markets.

Northfield Automation brings a full range of custom machinery for roll-to-roll processing of precision thin-material applications, such as solar cells, working primarily inthe United States. Solarcoating Machinery brings the full range of equipment needed to make solar cells and assemble finished PV modules for customers inEurope. Both privately held companies benefit from expanded opportunities and global market share, in addition to an international base of on-site technical support and spare parts distribution services.

"We are each highly experienced in our corners of the world and plan to support and learn from each other," states Brett Reese, president and CEO of Northfield Automation Systems. "We share a common business philosophy of excellent customer service and highly reliable, cost-effective manufacturing solutions that will bring true value to customers."

Solarcoating Machinery's managing director, Thomas Kolbusch, says: "We are always seeking innovative ways to meet the needs of the solar energy business community. Establishing a partnership for automation products and services inthe United States was our next logical step."

According to NanoMarkets, the thin-film PV market will produce the equivalent of 26GW by 2015 and will generate well over $20 billion in revenues in that same time frame.

Both companies will have exhibits at the 23rd European PV Solar Energy Conference inValencia, Spain, September 1 through 5.

About Solarcoating Machinery (http://www.solarcoating.de)

Solarcoating Machinery (ScM) was founded in 2006 as a start-up company to offer the full range of roll-to-roll equipment needed for coating, printing, laminating, packaging and encapsulation of flexible solar cells, including complete turnkey solutions. ScM's product range includes complete lab, pilot and production lines as well as single aggregates like coating and printing systems. The state-of-the-art drying and curing equipment is one strength of ScM. In addition, ScM provides R&D consulting and R&D centres for further development of flexible technologies and research activities, including global cooperation with R&D institutes and universities.

About Northfield Automation Systems (http://www.northfieldautomation.com)

Established in 1995, Northfield Automation Systems, Inc., designs, engineers and fabricates automation equipment for OEMs at all levels of manufacturing. Its engineers provide consultative support for streamlined manufacturing processes with turnkey integrated equipment. The company's vision is to become the global leader in web-based, high-precision, roll-to- roll processing of thin-film applications, including flexible electronics, display, solar, flexible battery and organic electronics.

SOURCE Solarcoating Machinery; Northfield Automation Systems