SolR: In-Line Monitoring System for Thin Film PV Processes

LayTec, the major provider of in-situ monitoring equipment to the compound
semiconductor industry, is entering a new field of business.

BERLIN and SAN FRANCISCO, June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- With its brand new
product-line SolR, LayTec will provide the first in-line monitoring systems
commercially available for thin film photovoltaic (PV) applications. SolR is
capable of monitoring the film thickness of all layers throughout the
thin-film PV process: transparent conducting oxide (TCO), absorber and buffer
layers. SolR will be available in various editions for copper indium gallium
selenide (CIGS) as well as for CdTe based thin-film solar cell processes.
According to LayTec's chief developer in the PV project, the main challenge
that had to be tackled was to obtain an accurate film thickness measurement
despite the reduced reflectance due to intentionally rough absorber layers.

Today, measurements in thin film PV processes are mainly performed off-line
and not on each batch. "SolR will help thin-film PV producers to control their
production on-line and thereby enhance their yield. Besides, it will
accelerate development cycles and help to transfer established processes to
new lines, an important feature in times when thin-film PV industry grows
rapidly," LayTec's CEO Thomas Zettler said.

SolR is designed to be compatible with typical state of the art in-line and
roll-to-roll processes and to work on all different kinds of substrates and
current PV cell designs.

LayTec will present the latest development results at Intersolar North America
at the Innovation Exchange Alcove in the exhibition area during the exhibition
on 14-16 July 2009 (see the Event Directory for exact time and location).

For further information please visit Booth 8349 (Section Wafers, Materials &
Equipment) throughout the Exhibition or contact:

Oksana Bondarenko
manager marketing services

LayTec GmbH
Helmholtzstrasse 13-14, 10587 Berlin, Germany
www.laytec.de

phone: +49 (0) 30 39 800 80-33
fax: +49 (0) 30 39 800 80-80
bondarenko@laytec.de

SOURCE LayTec GmbH

Oksana Bondarenko, manager marketing services of LayTec GmbH, +49 (0) 30 39
800 80-33, fax, +49 (0) 30 39 800 80-80, bondarenko@laytec.de