UNI-SOLAR’s Power Family of Products — Highlight of Solar Power International 2010
Show Highlights Include Launch of First-Ever UL-Approved Standard Production Residential Roof Shingle
ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich., Oct. 12, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — United Solar, a leading global manufacturer of building-integrated and rooftop photovoltaics under its UNI-SOLAR® brand – and parent company Energy Conversion Devices (Nasdaq:ENER) – are celebrating their 25th and 50th anniversaries, respectively, by highlighting their complete family of products for commercial and residential rooftops at Solar Power International 10.
Two of UNI-SOLAR’s four solar rooftop products – PowerTilt™ and PowerShingle™ – are new to the marketplace in just the past three months with the latter making its debut at the show. When combining the solar options of PowerBond™ and PowerMembrane™, UNI-SOLAR boasts a full suite of products that can be installed on virtually any roof in the world – commercial or residential.
The main benefit of each product is that they start with UNI-SOLAR’s industry-leading lightweight, flexible, low-profile and durable solar laminates, with the fastest payback in the industry.
“We are very proud of our half-century history of innovation and our longstanding commitment to an industry that’s in some ways still in its infancy, with a bright future ahead,” said Mark Morelli, President and CEO of UNI-SOLAR’s parent company, Energy Conversion Devices.
The newest member of the UNI-SOLAR Power Family is the revolutionary PowerShingle – the first-ever, UL-approved, standard-production residential solar module roof shingle available for the U.S. photovoltaic marketplace. The product replaces the need for heavy, bulky and unattractive frames on the residential roof with a design that fits the low-profile, visually-aesthetic needs of homeowners, drastically improving the marketplace outlook for what is anticipated to be a wider scale acceptance of solar on residential roofs.
UNI-SOLAR’s extremely lightweight and very flexible laminates allowed UNI-SOLAR engineers the ability to integrate solar into laminates that are designed to look like asphalt shingles. The PowerShingle product features laminates that are glass-free and encapsulated in UV-stabilized, weather-resistant polymers that hold up against Category 3 hurricane winds, hail and other heavy impacts – while continuing to provide excellent performance and protection for the inside of the home.
On the commercial side, UNI-SOLAR’s PowerTilt – designed with a 15 percent tilt to optimize an already high-performing technology by 10-20% – is ideal for low-load bearing roofs, can be installed without costly structural roof reinforcements, is glass-free and encapsulated in UV-stabilized, weather-resistant polymers. It too holds up against high-winds, hail and impacts. UNI-SOLAR brand laminates are also the solar industry’s top performing product at absorbing energy in low-light situations.
At less than two pounds per square foot, PowerTilt is easy to handle. Attachment options facilitate installation onto a variety of roofing materials. The UNI-SOLAR PowerTilt assembly is also easy to remove and replace for re-roofing.
PowerBond is the longest serving UNI-SOLAR product in the current Power Family lineup. With no substructure needed – a top design characteristic of architects everywhere – PowerBond is the lightest solar product on the market. It maintains the aesthetic integrity of a variety of roof pitches, style and curves and can be applied to various new or existing roofs with seamless blending due to its very flexible nature.
With its peel-and-stick adhesive backing, PowerBond does not require any roof penetrations, therefore lowering installation costs and providing a higher rate of return on investment. It out-performs other solar choices due to its low-light, high-heat and shadow-tolerant performance.
PowerMembrane has all the same attributes as PowerBond, but is further processed and adhered to a roofing membrane. This allows roofing contractors and architects to use the adhesive and substrate of their choice based on their application need.
About Energy Conversion Devices/United Solar
Energy Conversion Devices (ECD) (Nasdaq:ENER) is a leader in building-integrated and rooftop photovoltaics. The company manufactures, sells and installs thin-film solar laminates that convert sunlight to energy using proprietary technology. ECD’s UNI-SOLAR® brand products are unique because of their flexibility, light weight, ease of installation, durability, and real-world efficiency. Through its Solar Integrated Technologies business, the company also designs, manufactures and installs rooftop photovoltaic systems, which enable customers to transform unused space on the rooftop into a value-generating asset. In addition, ECD’s Ovonic Materials Division is the pioneer in NiMH battery technology, and is developing low cost fuel cells, hydrogen production from bioreformation, and hydrogen storage technologies. For more information, please visit www.energyconversiondevices.com.
This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning our plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, future net sales or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans or intentions relating to expansions, business trends and other information that is not historical information. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us on the date of this release and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Risks that could cause such results to differ include: our ability to maintain our customer relationships; the worldwide demand for electricity and the market for solar energy; the supply and price of components and raw materials for our products; and our customers’ ability to access the capital needed to finance the purchase of our product. The risk factors identified in the ECD filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, could impact any forward-looking statements contained in this release.
Investor Relations Contact:
Energy Conversion Devices Inc.
Michael E. Schostak, Head of Investor Relations
investor.relations@energyconversiondevices.com
(248) 299-6063
Public Relations Contact:
United Solar
Wendy Ventura, Marketing Communications Manager
(248) 299-6064