TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Amtech Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASYS), a global supplier of production and automation systems and related supplies for the manufacture of solar cells, today provided further comment on the significance of its previously announced three-party research collaboration agreement between Amtech's Tempress(R) Systems Inc, subsidiary, Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited, one of the world's leading vertically integrated photovoltaic product manufacturers, and the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands ("ECN"), a leading solar research center in Europe.

The joint project under the agreement endeavors to develop and implement high efficiency N-type silicon solar cells, named PANDA, at Yingli Green Energy's pilot production line in Baoding, China. The high efficiency cells will utilize the cell design of ECN, the solar diffusion technology and dry PSG removal expertise of Tempress, Amtech's solar subsidiary, and Yingli Green Energy's leading cell process technology.

The P-type silicon solar cell is the predominant solar cell used in today's market. The advantage of N-type silicon solar cells is that, among other things, unlike P-type silicon solar cells, there is virtually no sunlight induced efficiency degradation, which makes it a highly desirable cell product. The typical effect on efficiency from light induced degradation for P-type Czochralski (Cz) silicon solar cells is 0.5 to 1.0%.

J.S. Whang, President and Chief Executive Officer of Amtech, commented, "We are excited about this joint agreement with leaders in the industry and its potential to contribute to significant improvements in solar cell efficiency and bring solar energy closer to achieving grid parity. PANDA is true validation for our Tempress in-depth diffusion expertise and our capability for supplying reliable diffusion and automation equipment to the solar industry. Additionally, a European independent research and consulting firm, Yole Development, concluded that our Tempress(R) diffusion furnace had captured the number one position in terms of market share, or over 35 percent of the solar diffusion market."

About Amtech

Amtech Systems, Inc. manufactures capital equipment, including silicon wafer handling automation, thermal processing equipment and related consumables used in fabricating solar cells and semiconductor devices. Semiconductors, or semiconductor chips, are fabricated on silicon wafer substrates, sliced from ingots, and are part of the circuitry, or electronic components, of many products including solar cells, computers, telecommunications devices, automotive products, consumer goods, and industrial automation and control systems. The Company's wafer handling, thermal processing and consumable products currently address the diffusion, oxidation and deposition steps used in the fabrication of solar cells, semiconductors, MEMS and the polishing of newly sliced silicon wafers.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions, and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond Yingli Green Energy's and Amtech Systems' control, which may cause Yingli Green Energy's and Amtech Systems' actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in Yingli Green Energy's and Amtech Systems' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Yingli Green Energy and Amtech Systems does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.

    Source: Amtech Systems, Inc.