Energy Conversion Devices Announces Multi-Year Supply Agreement With Marcegaglia
ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich., Nov. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Energy
Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD) (Nasdaq: ENER), the leading global manufacturer
of thin-film flexible solar laminates, and Marcegaglia S.p.A., a leading
Italian steel manufacturing company, today announced a combined multi-year
supply agreement for UNI-SOLAR(R) cells.
Under the agreement, ECD's subsidiary, United Solar Ovonic (USO), will
supply Marcegaglia with individual photovoltaic (PV) cells for use in
integrated commercial roofing products that Marcegaglia is developing based on
its industry-leading metal roofing products. Marcegaglia expects to introduce
the solar-integrated metal roofing products to the market in 2010.
Mark Morelli, ECD's president and chief executive officer said,
"Marcegaglia currently purchases complete solar laminates from USO for
incorporation into its existing metal roofing products. With this agreement,
we are extending our relationship with Marcegaglia to create a new building
integrated product for the Italian and European markets. The agreement enables
Marcegaglia to optimize the integration of our PV cells into their roofing
material and situates us closer to our end market."
"Individual UNI-SOLAR cells can be easily integrated into Marcegaglia's
corrugated insulated panel without any additional dimensional rework. The goal
is to drive costs down and create innovative new products at the same time,"
said Marcegaglia's President and CEO, Antonio Marcegaglia. "We have obtained
very positive feedback from our customers on the UNI-SOLAR product and through
this agreement we will jointly deliver a new customer experience," he added.
About Energy Conversion Devices
Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD) (Nasdaq: ENER) is the leader in
building integrated and commercial rooftop photovoltaics, one of the fastest
growing segments of the solar power industry. The company manufactures and
sells thin-film solar laminates that convert sunlight to energy using
proprietary technology. ECD's UNI-SOLAR(R) brand products are unique because
of their flexibility, light weight, ease of installation, durability, and
real-world efficiency. ECD also pioneers other alternative technologies,
including a new type of nonvolatile digital memory technology that is
significantly faster, less expensive, and ideal for use in a variety of
applications including cell phones, digital cameras and personal computers.
For more information, please visit www.ovonic.com.
About Marcegaglia
Marcegaglia S.p.A is a market leader in Europe and among the world's top
companies in the transformation of steel. Through its facilities, spread all
over Italy and abroad, equipped with advanced technologies, more than four
millions tons of steel are processed every year. Welded tubes, drawn tubes,
coils, strips and sheets, made from carbon steel, stainless steel and
aluminum, in every size and thickness. Marcegaglia acts also in a wide range
of other industrial and civil sectors, such as: building (corrugated sheets
and insulated panels, field equipment and steel structure, storage system,
safety barriers), engineering (steel transforming turn-key plants and
machinery, electronic control and automations systems), energy (power
generation from renewable sources), services (safety and environment
integrated system, financial services and real estate management) home
products (appliance industry components, brooms and brushes) and tourism
(development and management of vacation resort and hotels).
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning our plans,
objectives, goals, strategies, future events, future net sales or performance,
capital expenditures, financing needs, plans or intentions relating to
expansions, business trends and other information that is not historical
information. All forward-looking statements are based upon information
available to us on the date of this release and are subject to risks,
uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control,
that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results
discussed in the forward-looking statements. Risks that could cause such
results to differ include: our ability to achieve sustainable profitability;
our ability to maintain our customer relationships; our ability to expand our
manufacturing capacity in a timely and cost-effective manner; the worldwide
demand for electricity and the market for solar energy; the supply and price
of components and raw materials for our products; and the resolution of
pending legal disputes. The risk factors identified in the ECD filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company's most recent
Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q,
could impact any forward-looking statements contained in this release.