Armor Solar Power Films Invests in New Photovoltaic Laser Equipment

This equipment is partly funded by the Fonds de Soutien à l'Investissement Industriel (800 K€) and will be installed at the La Chevrolière site, near Nantes, France.

NANTES, FRANCE, December 03, 2020 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In line with its dynamic and intermarket growth strategy, ARMOR solar power films (ARMOR Group) is investing in new photovoltaic laser equipment. This equipment is partly funded by the Fonds de Soutien à l'Investissement Industriel and will be installed at the La Chevrolière site, near Nantes, France.

NEW AND CUTTING-EDGE PHOTOVOLTAIC EQUIPMENT
As part of a long-term investment strategy, ARMOR solar power films is investing in innovative photovoltaic production equipment, more specifically a laser machine, which will be operational in 2022. Since the launch of its photovoltaic activity in 2008, the ARMOR Group has invested more than 100 million euros of its own funds and continues to annually invest in Organic Photovoltaics technology (OPV), including several million euros in 2020 alone. Some examples of recent major investments that have helped implement this solar technology include Research & Development, conducting pilot tests, recruitment, acquisition of OPVIUS (German OPV experts), and more.

"The solar technology market is booming and has an expected return potential of several tens of millions of euros. This is why investing in production equipment is an important step for ARMOR solar power films, since it will strengthen our European leadership in OPV." Hubert de Boisredon, Chairman and CEO of ARMOR

AN IMPROVED PRODUCTION PROCESS
With this new laser equipment that can easily integrate the existing production line, the production process of Organic Photovoltaic modules in Nantes, France, will reach an unmatched level of performance. Thanks to similar equipment at its German site in Kitzingen, ARMOR solar power films already perfectly masters this process technology. The laser machine will intervene at the end of the production process in order to structure the OPV films after full width coating and produce tailor-made modules, also known as free-form. This is an indisputable advantage of ARMOR's ASCA® OPV film, since it can then adapt to any shape or material, allowing previously unexploited surfaces to be solarized.

"This industrial investment will have the double benefit of increasing the performance of our ASCA® OPV film and reducing our production costs. Furthermore, as we are always looking for ways to satisfy our customers, we will now be able to respond to larger-scale projects and offer new solar energy applications and solutions that respond perfectly to the needs and/or demands of our partners." Moïra Asses, Marketing and Business Development Director.

A PROJECT SUPPORTED BY THE FONDS DE SOUTIEN A L'INVESTISSEMENT INDUSTRIEL
On November 13, it was announced that ARMOR solar power films (and 24 other candidates) won the Fonds de Soutien à l'Investissement Industriel. ARMOR solar power films will receive funds of up to €800k, between 2021 and 2022, in order to partly finance their new laser equipment. The Fonds de Soutien à l'Investissement Industriel was set up by the French government in partnership with the country's Regional Councils. This government support aims to help the industrial sector and is part of the country's recovery plan and regional reindustrialization policies.

"There is no great economy without industry. Today, the Fonds de Soutien à l'Investissement Industriel makes it possible to concretely relocate strategic and job-creating activities in our regions." Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Deputy Minister to the Minister of Economy and Finance, Responsible for Industry.

"The allocation of this fund proves that the French government supports strategic energy transition projects, like ours. This reassures and encourages us to continue to invest in and innovate for social change." Hubert de Boisredon, Chairman and CEO of ARMOR.

About ARMOR
ARMOR specializes in the industrial formulation of inks and the coating of thin layers onto thin films. The Group is the global market leader in the design and manufacture of thermal transfer ribbons for printing variable traceability data on labels and flexible packaging. The European market leader in innovative and sustainable printing services and consumables, the Group is a pioneer in the development and production of industrial inks and innovative materials, such as organic solar films, coated collectors for electric batteries and bespoke filaments for additive manufacturing. With an international presence, ARMOR has nearly 2,000 employees in some 20 different countries. In 2019 it posted annual revenue of €280m. Each year the group invests nearly €30m in industrial equipment and R&D. ARMOR is a responsible company committed to stimulating innovation within society. www.armor-group.com

ARMOR solar power films, a subsidiary of ARMOR Group, designs and develops intelligent, tailor-made, flexible and low-carbon solar energy solutions on an industrial scale for its international partners. Its team of experts of sixty people is spread over France, Germany and West Africa. www.asca.com

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