Jan. 11, 2008 – Swiss PV manufacturer Oerlikon Solar says it will build a thin-film solar module plant in Singapore, its second site besides its HQ in Switzerland, to establish development and production capabilities to serve customers in Asia, seen as a leading region for solar panel production.

The new site, employing approximately 100 workers, will be completed within a year. Joint development programs will include process optimization and yield improvement for new solar solutions, and the company will utilize an Asian-based supply chain and strategic outsourcing partnerships.

In a statement, Oerlikon Solar CEO Jeannine Sargent said the choice of Singapore was based on access to a pool of skilled workers and researchers, a business-friendly infrastructure including IP protection, and the government’s commitment to build a national solar energy industry. She cited market analysis projecting Asian capacity for solar panels produced to exceed 4GWp (gigawatt peak) by 2010, more than double that of the US and Europe. Oerlikon already has two key customers in Asia: CMC Magnetics and Auria Solar.

“With this new location and the expansion of our production site in Tr