NASHUA, N.H.--()--GT Advanced Technologies Inc., (NASDAQ: GTAT), today announced the availability of its new high volume hydrochlorination solution capable of producing enough trichlorosilane (TCS) from a single hydrochlorination fluid bed reactor (FBR) to support polysilicon facilities that are greater than 10,000 metric tons annually (MTA) in capacity. The new solution lowers the cost of ownership for plants by 20 percent over current TCS production offerings by eliminating the need for multiple hydrochlorination fluid bed reactors. The hydrochlorination FBR offering also includes GT’s next generation hydrochlorination heater, which delivers further costs savings by increasing conversion in the hydrochlorination FBR from 27 to 30 percent.
“Our new hydrochlorination solutions continue GT’s track record of offering innovative polysilicon production equipment and technology that lowers cost while improving quality and efficiency of producing polysilicon,” said Dave Keck, vice president and general manager of GT's Polysilicon Business Unit. “In volatile and changing market conditions, polysilicon producers must find ways to improve their cost structure to remain competitive. Our new hydrochlorination solutions, combined with our industry-leading SDR reactors, address this need.”
GT’s latest polysilicon technology offerings, including the new high volume hydrochlorination solution and its SDR™600 reactor capable of producing over 600 metric tons of polysilicon annually, allow for the production of polysilicon at less than $14/kg cash costs.
GT has established itself as the polysilicon market leader in providing hydrochlorination services aimed at lowering cost. GT’s hydrochlorination technology is currently supporting over 50,000MT of annualized worldwide polysilicon production.
About GT Advanced Technologies Inc.
GT Advanced Technologies Inc. is a diversified technology company with innovative crystal growth equipment and solutions for the global solar, LED and electronics industries. Our products accelerate the adoption of new advanced materials that improve performance and lower the cost of manufacturing. For additional information about GT Advanced Technologies, please visit www.gtat.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain of the information in this press release relate to the Company’s future expectations, plans and prospects for its business and industry that constitute "forward-looking statements" for the purposes of the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to: the Company’s ability to realize revenue from customer contracts and the ability to achieve the expected results of its hydrochlorination and SDR reactor technology. These forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the Company's control, which could cause actual events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements. Other factors that may cause actual events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements include the impact of continued decreased demand and/or excess capacity in the markets for the output of our solar and sapphire equipment, general economic conditions and the tightening credit market having an adverse impact on demand for the Company’s products, the possibility that changes in government incentives may reduce demand for solar products, which would, in turn, reduce demand for our equipment, technological changes could render existing products or technologies obsolete, the Company may be unable to protect its intellectual property rights, competition from other manufacturers may increase, exchange rate fluctuations and conditions in the credit markets and economy may reduce demand for the Company's products and various other risks as outlined in GT Advanced Technologies Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the statements under the heading "Risk Factors" in the company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2012. Statements in this press release should be evaluated in light of these important factors. The statements in this press release represent GT Advanced Technologies Inc.'s expectations and beliefs as of the date of this press release. GT Advanced Technologies Inc. anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause these expectations and beliefs to change. GT Advanced Technologies Inc. is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any such obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.