Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Spire contracted for UL certification systems

By Mass High Tech Staff

Solar equipment manufacturer Spire Corp. has won a contract to provide product safety certifier Underwriters Laboratories Inc. with test equipment for the U.S. and China. Spire’s Spi-Sun Simulator 4600 Single Long Pulse systems will be used in the two countries’ certification systems.

UL certification ensures module design and performance in the U.S. and is necessary to operate commercial sales in the country. The Northbrook, Ill.-based independent product safety company has more than 100 years of experience, and it has approved 21 billion products through 72,000 manufacturers annually, according to UL.

Bedford-based Spire (Nasdaq: SPIR) develops production line equipment for photovoltaic module manufacturers. The company has won a number of global contracts this year to provide solar cell lines. Among its deal-makers are PLG Power Limited and Alpex Exports Pvt. Ltd., both of India; Fluitecnik S.A. of Spain; Bogoroditsk Plant of Techno-Chemical Products of Russia; and Dongyang Creditech Co. Ltd. of South Korea.

Spire reported a 2007 net loss of $1.7 million on revenue of $38.4 million.