Tempress Group Holding, B.V. announced that it has acquired a majority ownership interest in SoLayTec, B.V., located in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, from RENA. SoLayTec is a provider of atomic layer deposition (ALD) systems used in high efficiency solar cells, including current and next generation structures such as p-type PERC and n-type.
Tempress is a subsidiary of Amtech Systems Inc., a global supplier of production and automation systems and related supplies for the manufacture of solar cells, semiconductors, and sapphire and silicon wafers. The acquisition was made with cash and SoLayTec is expected to contribute modestly to revenue and earnings in fiscal 2015, with significant growth expected in 2016.
"This acquisition further demonstrates our focus on expanding our participation in the solar market with breakthrough technologies that advance the industry and directly address our customers' interest in increasing solar cell efficiency at a lower cost of total ownership,” commented Mr. Fokko Pentinga, Chief Executive Officer of Amtech, commented. “We believe SoLayTec's InPassion® ALD ultrafast, high throughput systems reflect a significant opportunity for our current and prospective customers.”
SoLayTec's InPassion® ALD system is already installed at several key customers and SoLayTec has additional purchase orders in hand. Amtech is already executing on sales synergies, with SoLayTec's ALD system part of the second phase n-type expansion at Mission Solar Energy. Moreover, Tempress is offering its PECVD and SoLayTec's spatial ALD as an integrated solution for its customers' passivation and aluminum oxide needs.
“As part of the transaction, we will continue to cooperate on technology with RENA and their wet chemical processes. With these synergies we expect a highly efficient integration process and a solid platform for our combined companies to successfully participate in the upcoming PERC market and accelerate SoLayTec's growth in 2015 and beyond in support of Amtech's solar growth strategy," added Pentinga.