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Spire Selects EPP As Exclusive Solar Capital Equipment Representative In Germany & Surrounding Countries

December 25, 2007 by Jeff Shepard

Spire Corp., a global solar company providing turnkey solar factories and capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic modules, announced that it has selected Electronic Production Partners GmbH (EPP) as its representative in Germany. EPP will also represent Spire exclusively in Austria, Switzerland and the Benelux countries with non-exclusive coverage in Eastern Europe and beyond.

"Europe is the focal point of photovoltaic (PV) demand and we recognize the need to expand Spire’s reach and exposure in this critical marketplace. EPP is an excellent firm with a deep background in semiconductor capital equipment and complex electronic systems," said Spire’s Chairman and CEO, Roger Little. "Located in Munich, Germany, EPP is at the hub of the world’s largest PV market and well positioned to respond quickly to sales and service requests. With strong technical capabilities and years of experience in capital equipment service, EPP can handle the needs of solar production companies throughout the world."

"We are thrilled to be working with Spire in the solar market. Their leadership position and innovative technologies are in great demand," said Bryan Burton, Managing Director of EPP. "EPP brings the local expertise and attention needed to grow market share here and serve the European-based solar manufacturers in their quest to remain market leaders."

Spire will establish a Regional Test Center highlighting its newest simulator, the SPI-SUN SIMULATOR™ 4600SLP (4600SLP). Introduced earlier this year, the 4600SLP represents the latest technology and is well suited for both crystalline silicon and thin film applications.

"The single long pulse of the 4600SLP allows for full saturation of the newest thin film modules and results in a high production rate for module testing. The simulator is the brain of the production line and defines the power at which a module can be sold," said Mark Willingham, Spire’s Vice President of Corporate Marketing. "A fully functional 4600SLP will be on site in Munich and available for testing by our customers. It will be invaluable in testing new module designs as well as inspecting imported modules. Verifying the power rating of modules from many countries is critical at this stage of PV, as the demand in Europe pulls in modules from across the world and less developed suppliers."