BTU gets more diffusion furnace orders from China

BTU International received two new orders for its Meridian in-line diffusion furnaces from a new and existing Asia-based customer. The orders are estimated to hold a value of over US$18 million, The diffusion furnaces, for both orders, will be used for capacity expansions with delivery beginning this quarter and continuing through the third quarter 2011. The two new orders will bring BTU’s in-line diffusion tool shipments total to over 2GW.

“We recognize that when the solar industry is ramping at a rapid pace, it is a difficult time for customers to change their manufacturing process,” said Paul van der Wansem, chairman and CEO of BTU. “However, with strong pressure to lower cost per watt, in-line, diffusion makes a strong case by offering state of the art cell efficiencies for existing and advanced cell processing, coupled with a lower cost of ownership.”