First PV Module Testing Lab in China to be Awarded Underwriters Laboratories Witness Testing Data Program Certificate
SAN FRANCISCO and WUXI, China, June 18 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP), the world's largest crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer, today announced that it has opened the first state-of-the-art PV module testing laboratory in China to be awarded the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Witness Testing Data Program (WTDP) Certificate.
Located at Suntech's headquarters in Wuxi, the world-class PV module testing facility is the largest in China with 1400sqm and 7000sqm of indoor and outdoor testing space, respectively. The cutting edge test equipment includes pulse and continuous solar simulators, walk-in climate chambers, mechanical load and hail testers, electroluminescence testers, and high precision infrared cameras to evaluate all aspects of module quality and performance. All the equipment and testing procedures accord with the stringent standards of UL1703, IEC61215 and IEC61730-2. Through UL's WTDP, PV module tests may be conducted under the supervision of highly experienced UL personnel and subsequently awarded certification enabling Suntech to bring solar products to market faster.
Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech's Chairman and CEO said, "This new
state-of-the-art PV module testing laboratory reflects Suntech's goal of producing the highest quality and most reliable solar panels in the industry. Underwriters Laboratories has exceptional, globally recognized expertise in quality testing, and it is an honor to be the first solar company in China to be awarded with the Witness Testing Data Program certificate. In close collaboration with UL, this witness testing program will enable us to accelerate the testing and qualification of Suntech PV modules so that we can bring the latest solar technology to our customers as fast as possible. In the current environment, we believe that there is a flight to quality module producers and that customers value our commitment to ensuring the reliability of our products."
Scot Webster, UL's SVP of CAS Engineering and Laboratory Operations said, "It is excellent to see the world's largest crystalline silicon module manufacturer taking the lead in module quality with the establishment of this world-class test laboratory. Suntech has already garnered a reputation for producing premium quality solar products and this new lab will no doubt enhance customer confidence in Suntech products. We look forward to building UL's relationship with Suntech to certify the safety and quality of ongoing evolutions of solar technology."
About UL
Underwriters Laboratories(R) is an independent product safety certification organization that has been testing products and writing standards for safety for more than a century. UL evaluates more than 19,000 types of products, components, materials and systems annually with 21 billion UL Marks appearing on 72,000 manufacturers' products each year. UL's worldwide family of companies and network of service providers includes 62 laboratory, testing and certification facilities serving customers in 99 countries. For more information, please visit: http://www.UL.com/newsroom .
About Suntech
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP) is the world's leading solar energy company as measured by production output of crystalline silicon solar modules. Suntech designs, develops, manufactures, and markets premium quality, high-output, cost-effective and environmentally friendly solar products for electric power applications in the residential, commercial, industrial, and public utility sectors. Suntech's patent-pending Pluto technology for crystalline silicon solar cells improves power output by up to 12% compared to conventional production methods. Suntech also offers one of the broadest ranges of building-integrated solar products under the MSK Solar Design Line(TM).
Suntech designs and delivers commercial and utility scale solar power systems through its wholly owned subsidiary Suntech Energy Engineering and will own and operate projects greater than 10 megawatts in the United States through Gemini Solar Development Company, a joint venture with Renewable Ventures, a Fotowatio company. With regional headquarters in China, Switzerland and San Francisco and sales offices worldwide, Suntech is passionate about improving the environment we live in and dedicated to developing advanced solar solutions that enable sustainable development. For more information, please visit http://www.suntech-power.com .
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements, and includes the ability of Suntech to accelerate the testing and qualification of Suntech PV modules, and Suntech's ability to produce the highest quality and most reliable solar panels in the industry. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Suntech's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F. Suntech does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.
For further information, please contact:
In China:
Rory Macpherson
Investor Relations Director
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd.
Tel: +86-21-6288-5574
Email: rory@suntech-power.com
In the United States:
Sanjay M. Hurry
Vice President
The Piacente Group, Inc. (Investor Relations Counsel, Suntech)
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
Email: suntech@tpg-ir.com
