ROFIN-SINAR and Manz Automation AG Enter into a Strategic Alliance

       By: ROFIN-SINAR Technologies Inc.
Posted: 2008-08-28 06:00:54
ROFIN-SINAR Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: RSTI), one of the world's leading developers and manufacturers of high-performance laser beam sources and laser-based solutions, today announced that it had entered into a strategic alliance with Manz Automation AG (Reutlingen/Germany) to develop a new machine concept for the production of thin-film solar modules.

The strategic alliance aims to develop a new type of manufacturing equipment for the photovoltaic industry that combines laser edge ablation and laser cutting of thin-film solar modules within production. The innovative machine concept will allow two successive processes to be integrated into a single production line:

The laser edge ablation process Manz Automation developed in the past and the new process in the photovoltaic sector to cut glass using the ROFIN-SINAR protected MLBA laser process.

The combination of both process technologies using ROFIN-SINAR laser technology within an innovative machine concept shall result in cost savings in production and far-reaching improvements in the quality of the solar modules.

Within the cooperation the partners will bundle and benefit from their respective competences. Manz Automation as the engineering partner will develop the production system and integrate the laser technology. ROFIN-SINAR will be responsible for developing the laser cutting technology, which will be used exclusively by Manz Automation in the photovoltaic sector.

After the joint project starts in September 2008, the project is expected to take approximately 12 months until the new machines will be market-ready.

With operational headquarters in Plymouth, Michigan, and Hamburg, Germany, ROFIN-SINAR Technologies Inc. designs, develops, engineers and manufactures laser sources and laser-based system solutions for a wide range of applications. With production facilities in the US, Germany, UK, Sweden, Finland, Singapore and Japan, ROFIN-SINAR is one of the world's leading designers and manufacturers of industrial lasers and currently has more than 28,000 laser units installed worldwide and serves more than 3,000 customers. ROFIN-SINAR's shares trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol RSTI and are listed in Germany in the "Prime Standard" segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under ISIN US7750431022. Additional information is available on ROFIN-SINAR's home page: http://www.rofin.com.

Company Profile: Manz Automation AG

Reutlingen-based Manz Automation AG (ISIN: DE000A0JQ5U3), together with its subsidiaries, is by market share one of the world's leading technological providers of systems and components for automation, quality assurance and laser process technology for the photovoltaic industry and for automation and wet chemicals for the LCD industry. The Manz Group's core competences are in robotics, image processing, laser technology, wet chemicals as well as control and drive technology. The Manz Group has sales and/or service branches in Germany, Taiwan, the USA, China, South Korea, Spain, Hungary and Slovakia as well as a service alliance in India. In addition, the Manz Group has its own production facilities in Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Taiwan and China. The Manz Group recorded revenues of around EUR 71.2 million in fiscal year 2007. Investor relations contact: Manz Automation AG, Birte-Christina Benecke, Phone: +49 (0)7121 - 9000-21

Contact: Katharina Manok
Gunther Braun
ROFIN-SINAR
734-416-0206
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011-49-40-733-63-256
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