MERRIMACK, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GT Solar International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOLR), a global provider of polysilicon production technology, and sapphire and silicon crystalline growth systems and materials for the solar, LED and other specialty markets, today announced the commercial release of the DSS™650, the newest version of its industry-leading, multicrystalline ingot growth systems for the solar PV industry. The DSS650 produces ingots greater than 600 kilograms and delivers the same high quality performance and reliability that its customers, many of whom are the world’s leading PV manufacturers, expect from GT Solar’s multicrystalline growth furnaces.

“GT Solar continues to actively invest in advanced technologies that deliver value to our customers,” said Tom Gutierrez, GT Solar’s president and CEO. “Our field-tested DSS650 sets a new standard for cost-effective, high volume, multicrystalline silicon ingot growth systems greater than 600 kilograms, which help PV manufacturers lower their production costs and improve their competitive position. As the leading provider of PV crystalline growth technology and services with over 2,200 DSS systems in the field, GT Solar provides a path to high volume production and a lower cost of ownership.”

The DSS650 furnace is a product of GT Solar’s world-class, advanced R&D and production engineering. GT Solar leverages its extensive crystalline growth know-how to ensure that its PV crystalline growth furnaces deliver industry-leading system reliability and performance. The DSS650 produces the PV industry’s largest ingots at a proven reliability level sufficient for high volume commercial production. In addition to lowering ingot production costs, the new system helps manufacturers reduce the cost of their wafer operations because the taller form factor of the bricks optimizes and improves the utilization of the wafer saw beam. This, in turn, improves yield by increasing the amount of good wafers produced.

The DSS650 also incorporates new changes to its proprietary hot zone technology, which improve system performance and control during the ingot growth process, and optimize the new process recipe required to produce larger ingots in high volume PV production environments.

The new DSS650 systems continue GT Solar’s proven track record of helping its customers achieve greater value from their equipment. Customers can upgrade their current DSS furnaces to take advantage of the higher throughput and performance of the new DSS650. GT Solar received its first order for the new systems from Korea-based PV manufacturer Nexolon who will install the new DSS650 as part of their wafer capacity expansion program.

About GT Solar International, Inc.

GT Solar International, Inc. is a global provider of polysilicon production technology, and sapphire and silicon crystalline growth systems and materials for the solar, LED and other specialty markets. The company's products and services allow its customers to optimize their manufacturing environments and lower their cost of ownership. For additional information about GT Solar, please visit www.gtsolar.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release are forward-looking in nature, including, but not limited to the effectiveness and yield of the DSS650 when used by customers and its ability to lower customer costs and improve a customer’s competitive position. These statements are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs. 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. Factors that may cause actual events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements include the possibility that the Company is unable to recognize revenue on customer contracts, that 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 Solar International, Inc.’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the statements under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal 2010 filed on June 4, 2010 and quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the second fiscal quarter filed on November 9, 2010. GT Solar International, 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.

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