Renewable Energy Corporation ASA(REC)announced that it intends to open a new applications and research center,in Shangyu,China.The Silicon Technologies Applications and Research Center(STAR Center)will be a technology development and training facility that provides localized support for REC Silicon customers.Additionally,the company will exhibit at the sixth Annual SNEC International Photovoltaic Conference in Shanghai this week.
The STAR Center will allow customers to evaluate silicon materials,equipment and processes that impact yield and cost in manufacturing mono and multi-crystalline polysilicon ingots for the solar and semiconductor industry.
Kurt Levens,vice president of Commercial Development and Planning,REC Silicon,commented,"The STAR Center will be our regional customer support and applications facility with the express purpose of teaching our customers how to use our products and teaching ourselves how customers should use our products.In doing this,the firm can better determine the value proposition of the material in the customers'processes."
Kurt Levens continued,"REC Silicon recognizes the importance of China's solar and semiconductor industry and we want to be close to our expanding customer base in China."
The STAR Center will be wholly owned by REC;however REC has partnered with equipment manufacturer Jingsheng M&E,a China-based polysilicon ingot and furnace manufacturer.The two companies will engage in collaborative research at the STAR Center to investigate product attributes and processes,as well as yield and packing efficiency improvements.
