Tuesday, August 19, 2008

BTU snags multimillion- dollar solar order

By Mass High Tech Staff

Photovoltaic manufacturing equipment maker BTU International Inc., has received a new order for its thermal processing system valued at “more than $2 million,” according to statement by the local company.

While officials did not reveal the customer’s name, a company statement called it a “major thin-film solar customer.” The contract calls for the delivery of several in-line thermal processing systems, which will be used in the high-volume production of thin-film photovoltaics.

Founded in 1950 and based in North Billerica, BTU (Nasdaq: BTUI) reported $63.7 million in net sales in 2007, down from $78.3 million in 2006. The company reported a 30 percent decrease in its electronics assembly business in 2007, but a general increase in its alternative energy products, particularly its photovoltaic processing equipment, which saw a doubling of revenue in 2007.

The company is particularly well-entrenched in China, where last March it opened a Center of Excellence for Photovoltaics Process Technology, located within its Shanghai manufacturing plant.

The company offers solar-processing equipment for both silicon and thin-film photovoltaics. In thin-film photovoltaics, BTU’s equipment is used for both the CIGS and the CdTe processes. Silicon photovoltaic applications are served by BTU’s Metallization Furnaces and In-Line Diffusion Systems.