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In the last few months, SolarWorld AG has massively expanded and modernized its production capacities along the entire value chain at its locations in the U.S. and in Germany. Older parts of the production facilities are now consistently taken out of service by the group to strengthen its competitiveness.

In the United States, SolarWorld is concentrating production activities on its location at Hillsboro, Ore. At the group’s largest location outside Germany, SolarWorld AG is already operating two solar power module production lines. The module production at Camarillo, Calif. is now to be discontinued and completely pooled at Hillsboro. As a result of this merger at a fully integrated location, SolarWorld AG will tap synergy potentials and cut production costs. The sales and distribution unit at Camarillo will be retained and further strengthened.

In Germany, SolarWorld at the Freiberg/Saxony location has a state-of-the-art annual production capacity of 1,000 MW after the commissioning of the new production facility for solar wafers. Older parts of the production facilities can thus be taken out of service. This will be accompanied by a reduction of the level of loan workers, which was previously necessary during the build-up phase. With this transformation, SolarWorld will achieve a substantial cost reduction as well as an increase of productivity at the German site.

With the measures described, SolarWorld will strengthen its competitiveness at its two locations in the U.S. and Germany in a hotly contested market. Dr.-Ing. E. h. Frank Asbeck said, “With this, we will continue to keep our wage cost share at below 10%. Especially in contrast to manufacturers who increasing relocate to low wage countries or come from there, this is of strategic importance. It means that we offer quality from Germany and quality made in the U.S. that is competitive with the Far East.”