DGAP-News: Roth & Rau expands its R&D capacities / Official opening of new Technology Centre

Roth & Rau AG / Miscellaneous

11.05.2009

Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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- Roth & Rau expands its R&D capacities
- Official opening of new Technology Centre

Hohenstein-Ernstthal, 11 May 2009 - 2009 will be a year of research and
development at Roth & Rau. Developing new forward-looking technologies for
the photovoltaics industry will be one of the company’s focuses of
investment in the coming months and forms an integral component of its
strategic alignment for the coming years. In view of this, Roth & Rau has
pressed extensively ahead with expanding personnel and physical capacities
in its research and development division. Following nine months of
construction, the new Technology Centre was officially opened at the
company’s headquarters in Hohenstein-Ernstthal last Friday. Together with
the adjacent hall, the new building offers 1,500 m² of laboratory surface
and 50 office workplaces. The total investment volume amounted to around
EUR 11 million. The central research and development centre of the Roth &
Rau Group for developing products and processes for use in the production
of novel, more efficient solar cells will be located in the new premises
with immediate effect. What’s more, there is also sufficient space for
customer applications and for training customers in how to use Roth & Rau’s
equipment. Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft will participate with around EUR 3
million in equipping the Technology Centre with systems technology for
research projects to be performed jointly by Roth & Rau and Fraunhofer
institutes in Saxony.

On the occasion of the official opening, Roth & Rau held a workshop on ‘New
Products and Technologies for the Photovoltaics Industry’, which was
attended by around 120 guests from the photovoltaics industry,
representatives of renowned research institutes, customers and friends of
the company, as well as by employees of Roth & Rau’s research and
development division. This was followed by the official opening in the
presence of the Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs,
Wolfgang Tiefensee. In his address, Minister Tiefensee stressed the
‘necessity of bringing research and development to medium-sized companies
in order to secure their competitiveness on a sustainable basis.’ He
referred at the same time to the significance of highly productive
networks, such as the close cooperation with Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. Dr.
Dietmar Roth, CEO of Roth & Rau AG, added: ‘We are delighted to be able to
open our new Technology Centre today, thus providing us with urgently
needed additional space for our growing research and development
activities. Since the company’s foundation 19 years ago, it has been our
employees’ power of innovation and their courage to think in new directions
that have been among our most important strengths. We will continue to
cultivate this tradition closely, as it is of decisive importance for the
ongoing successful development and further growth of the Roth & Rau Group.’

About Roth & Rau AG:
Roth & Rau AG based in Hohenstein-Ernstthal (ISIN DE000A0JCZ51) is one of
the world’s leading suppliers of technologies and production equipment for
the photovoltaics industry. Furthermore Roth & Rau supplies components and
process systems based on plasma and ion beam technology for other sectors.
Developed by Roth & Rau, these products are manufactured and distributed
worldwide through the company’s photovoltaic and plasma and ion beam
technology divisions. Roth & Rau’s photovoltaic division (PV) focuses on
providing antireflective coating facilities as well as fully automated
manufacturing lines (turnkey production lines) for the production of
crystalline silicon solar cells. Another focus is on the production of
equipment for the coating of thin film solar modules. The plasma and ion
beam technology division (PIB) produces plasma sources and ion beam sources
as well as process systems for plasma and ion beam enhanced thin film and
surface processing methods. Customers served by this division include, in
particular, companies in the semiconductor and automotive industries, R&D
departments in various industries including photovoltaics as well as
research institutes and universities. The third division, ‘Other’,
comprises all activities outside the PV and PIB divisions. Roth & Rau AG
posted EBIT of EUR 28.5 million and sales of EUR 272.1 million pursuant to
IFRS for the 2008 financial year and employed 606 people as of 31 December
2008.

Contact:
Roth & Rau AG
Dr. Silvia Roth
Tel.: +49 (0) 3723/6685-333
E-mail: investor@roth-rau.de

Haubrok Investor Relations GmbH
Simone Gorny
Tel.: +49 (0) 211/30126-130
E-mail: s.gorny@haubrok.de
11.05.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

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Language: English
Issuer: Roth & Rau AG
An der Baumschule 6-8
09337 Hohenstein-Ernstthal
Deutschland
Phone: 03723 6685-0
Fax: 03723 6685-100
E-mail: info@roth-rau.de
Internet: www.roth-rau.de
ISIN: DE000A0JCZ51
WKN: A0JCZ5
Indices: TecDAX
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Stuttgart, München, Düsseldorf

End of News DGAP News-Service

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