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DGAP-News: Q-Cells SE: SEMI recommends introducing Q-Cells Tra.QTM signature technology as industry-wide standard
[June 10, 2011]

DGAP-News: Q-Cells SE: SEMI recommends introducing Q-Cells Tra.QTM signature technology as industry-wide standard


(DGAP Corporate News Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) DGAP-News: Q-Cells SE / Key word(s): Product Launch/Miscellaneous Q-Cells SE: SEMI recommends introducing Q-Cells Tra.QTM signature technology as industry-wide standard 10.06.2011 / 08:30 --------------------------------------------------------------------- PRESS RELEASE ON INTERSOLAR 2011 Q-Cells SE: SEMI recommends introducing Q-Cells Tra.QTM signature technology as industry-wide standard - Q-Cells Tra.QTM procedure allows to track solar cells - Tra.QTM protects against forgery, improves service quality and supports recycling process - SEMI proposes Tra.QTM as overall standard for the sector Bitterfeld-Wolfen / Munich (Germany), June 10, 2011 - At Intersolar, SEMI (Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International), the leading international standardisation body in the field of semiconductors and photovoltaics, recommended today establishing Tra.QTM, a Q-Cells technology for coding of individual solar cells, as an industry-wide standard. The laser signature technology developed by Q-Cells opens groundbreaking possibilities to track and optimise products. In addition, it provides protection against forgery. Trade association SEMI plans to establish Tra.QTM as an international standard, making the technology available for the entire PV industry.



Individual laser coding of each and every solar cell provides for targeted quality control. The code, which is not visible to the human eye, relates key data to the individual cell, including delivery date of the raw material, supplier code and codes of materials used across the production process. Digital signatures enable full traceability across major parts of the photovoltaics value chain, from silicon wafers to solar modules and systems. Providing information on every step of the manufacturing process, the technology increases transparency with regards to processes and materials. Laser signature supports continuous process optimisation, leveraging cost benefits and advancing technological innovations in the solar industry. This provides a unique wealth of detailed information on the production phases. Knowing which materials were used in manufacturing facilitates appropriate recycling of end-of-life products. Since the origin of any solar cell can be determined transparently, the risk of counterfeit is eliminated.

Q-Cells baptised its patented laser signature technology Tra.Q(TM) - Traceable Quality. It is an integral part of the new Q-Cells' seal of quality and one of the features ensuring yields of crystalline solar modules. The 'Q-Cells YIELD SECURITY' seal of quality combines three quality features: solar cells and modules from Q-Cells are PID-free, protected against hot spots and, as of now, can be traced due to Tra.Q(TM).


Q-Cells developed an innovative Anti PID technology, protecting solar cells and modules against potential induced degradation, which could reduce output by up to 20%. Already during production, Q-Cells inspects products for material defects that could cause overheating - so-called hot spots.

The procedure of identifying low-quality cells and removing them from the process has been tested and proved itself for years. 'Q-Cells YIELD SECURITY' gives customers a quality promise that is unequalled in the domestic and international markets.

SEMI is an international industry association for the micro and nanoelectronics industries. It contributes to advancing innovations and technologies and strives to make them accessible to all industry players.

Through the standard, Q-Cells supplies third parties with its technical knowhow on Tra.QTM technology.

Q-Cells offers the licence for purchase on reasonable terms and uses proceeds to refinance the development costs incurred. A number of laser and reader manufacturers have cooperated on this development and offer a comprehensive selection of sophisticated writing and reading devices.

PRESS CONTACT Q-Cells SE OT Thalheim, Sonnenallee 17-21 06766 Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany WEB www.q-cells.com Q-Cells Corporate Communications Alberta Rohardt, Daniel Paul Schreiter TEL (+49) 03494 6699.10121 FAX (+49) 03494 6699.10000 EMAIL [email protected] About Q-Cells SE The Q-Cells Group is one of the world's leading photovoltaics companies and offers a wide range of photovoltaic solutions, from solar cells and modules to solar power plants. Q-Cells's products are developed and manufactured at its headquarters in Bitterfeld-Wolfen (Germany) and marketed via its global sales network. It also has a second production plant in Malaysia. More than 200 scientists and engineers at Q-Cells are working to swiftly advance solar technology and achieve Q-Cells' twin aims: driving down the costs of photovoltaics quickly and permanently, and making solar power competitive.

The close links between R&D and production enable Q-Cells to rapidly translate cutting-edge innovation into mass production - and underpin its ambition to be at the forefront of photovoltaic technology. Q-Cells is quoted on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (QCE; ISIN DE0005558662) and also listed on the TecDAX, the German technology index.

Executive Board: Dr Nedim Cen (CEO), Dr Marion Helmes (CFO), Hans-Gerd Füchtenkort (CSO) Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Prof Dr Karlheinz Hornung End of Corporate News --------------------------------------------------------------------- 10.06.2011 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Q-Cells SE Sonnenallee 17-21, OT Thalheim 06766 Bitterfeld-Wolfen Deutschland Phone: +49 (0)3494 - 6699-0 Fax: +49 (0)3494 - 6699-199 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.q-cells.com ISIN: DE0005558662, Wandelanleihe 2012: DE000A0LMY64, Wandelanleihe 2014: DE000A1AGZ06, Wandelanleihe 2015: DE000A1E8HF6 WKN: 555866 Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service --------------------------------------------------------------------- 128101 10.06.2011

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