Amsterdam, 29 April 2010 — AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. (« AMG, » EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: « AMG ») announced that its Engineering Systems Division, ALD Vacuum Technologies (« ALD ») developed the next generation single crucible solar melting and crystallization vacuum furnaces – the SCU 600plus. The SCU 600plus incorporates ALD’s latest crystallization technology and is capable of handling load sizes up to 800kg.
This second generation system, the SCU 600plus, utilizes up to 60% larger batch sizes compared to the the SCU 400, resulting in over 30% reduction in crystallization costs. The SCU 600plus furnace series is designed to process the full range of crucibles including, both G5 and G6 types, and has a high degree of flexibility in batch sizes, while ensuring the same high quality melting and crystallization as ALD’s SCU 400 systems. The new system is designed to enable current SCU 400 operators to easily transition to SCU 600plus systems.
AMG has successfully produced high quality ingots utilizing the SCU 600plus. These systems will be available beginning in the second quarter 2010. With a global installed capacity of over 3 GW peak or the equivalent of 450 ALD SCU ingot furnaces, AMG is a recognized as a leading technology provider to the solar wafer industry.
About AMG
AMG, incorporated in the Netherlands, is a global leader in the production of highly engineered specialty metal products and advanced vacuum furnace systems. AMG serves growing industries worldwide with its unique combination of metallurgical engineering expertise and production know-how. AMG is a market leader in many of its products and systems, which are critical to the production of key components for the aerospace, energy (including solar and nuclear), electronics, optics, chemicals, construction and transportation industries. AMG has two operating divisions of businesses, Advanced Materials and Engineering Systems, and owns interests in publicly-listed companies Timminco Limited (TSX: « TIM ») and Graphit Kropfmühl AG (Deutsche Börse: GKR.DE).
The Advanced Materials Division develops and produces niche specialty metals and complex metals products, many of which are used in demanding, safety-critical, high-stress environments. AMG is one of a limited number of significant producers globally of niche specialty metals, such as ferrovanadium, ferronickel-molybdenum, aluminum master alloys and additives, chromium metal and ferrotitanium, used by steel, aluminum, chemical and superalloy producers for aerospace, automotive, energy, electronics, optics, chemicals, construction and other applications. Other key products produced by AMG include specialty alloys for titanium and superalloys, coating materials, tantalum and niobium oxides, vanadium chemicals and antimony trioxide.
The Engineering Systems Division designs, engineers and produces advanced vacuum furnace systems and operates vacuum heat treatment facilities. AMG is a global leader in supplying technologically-advanced vacuum furnace systems to customers in the aerospace, energy (including solar and nuclear), transportation, electronics, superalloys and specialty steel industries. Examples of furnace systems produced by AMG include vacuum remelting, solar silicon melting and crystallization, vacuum induction melting, vacuum heat treatment and high pressure gas quenching, vacuum precision casting, turbine blade coating and sintering. AMG also provides vacuum case-hardening heat treatment services on a tolling basis to customers through facilities equipped with vacuum heat treatment furnaces.
Graphit Kropfmühl AG is a majority controlled, publicly listed subsidiary of AMG. Based on its secure raw material sources in Africa, China and Europe, Graphit Kropfmühl is a specialist in the production of silicon metal and the extraction, processing and refining of natural crystalline graphite for a wide range of energy saving industrial applications.
Timminco Limited is a publicly listed affiliate of AMG. Timminco is a leader in the production of upgraded metallurgical silicon for the rapidly growing solar photovoltaic energy industry. Timminco also produces silicon metal for use in a broad range of industrial applications.
AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Czech Republic, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Sri Lanka and Australia and also has sales and customer service offices in Belgium, Russia, China and Japan (website: www.amg-nv.com).
For further information please contact:
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.+1 610 975 4901
Jonathan Costello
Vice President of Corporate Communications
jcostello@amg-nv.com
Disclaimer
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