Tokyo Electron, Sharp Tie Up on Solar Cell Making Gear

Tokyo, Feb. 18 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo Electron Ltd. said Monday that it has entered the solar cell business by establishing a new joint company with Sharp Corp. for developing solar cell manufacturing equipment.

The Nirasaki, Yamanashi Prefecture-based JV, called Tokyo Electron PV Ltd., was set up on Feb. 6 with capital of 50 million yen, of which 51 pct is owned by Tokyo Electron and 49 pct by Sharp.

Initial shipments of plasma chemical vapor deposition systems for use in the production of cost competitive thin-film silicon photovoltaic cells are scheduled for 2009. Tokyo Electron will undertake the production and sale of the products.

The systems are expected to be installed in the solar cell plant currently being constructed by Sharp in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture.

By combining Tokyo Electron’s mass production technology for semiconductor-making equipment and Sharp’s solar cell technology, the two firms intend to develop solar cell manufacturing gear with improved productivity. They have yet to decide on the production capacity and size of the business.END

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