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 a productivity improvement to its latest generation multicrystalline ingot growth system, the DSS™650, which was first announced in January. The DSS650 produces ingots greater than 625 kilograms. The enhanced process improves productivity by 44 percent over the DSS450 as a result of reduced cycle time, while maintaining high crystal quality and mass ingot yield.

“The enhanced productivity of our DSS650 is a result of our ongoing continuous improvement program,” said Vikram Singh, vice president and general manager of GT Solar’s photovoltaic systems group. “After we release a product we continue to look for additional ways to improve the performance of our systems. The productivity improvement we are announcing today is an example of how GT continues to deliver value to our customers to lower their cost of manufacturing and improve their return in investment.”

The DSS650 continues GT’s proven track record of helping its large installed base of customers achieve greater value from their equipment. With over 2,900 systems in the field, customers can upgrade previous generation DSS furnaces to take advantage of the higher throughput and performance of the new DSS650. In addition to lowering ingot production costs, the DSS650 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.

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 third quarter of fiscal 2011 filed on February 10, 2011. 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.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6723532&lang=en

Contacts