• Order represents 2.5GW of wafering capacity; adds to strong momentum of HCT B5 system
  • Selection validates unique differentiation of proven HCT B5 technology and productivity

SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 8, 2011 - Applied Materials, Inc., the leading equipment supplier to the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry, announced today that GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Ltd.:
http://www.gcl-poly.com.hk/, China's largest producer of polysilicon wafers for solar PV applications in 2010*, has placed a significant order for Applied's HCT B5:
http://www.appliedmaterials.com/technologies/library/applied-hct-b5TM wire saws. The systems, which represent more than 2.5 gigawatts of wafering:
http://www.appliedmaterials.com/news/media-resources/technical-glossary#WAFERING capacity, are scheduled to begin shipping to GCL-Poly's production facilities in Suzhou, Changzhou, and Taicang, China, in the current calendar quarter of this year.

"GCL-Poly continues to execute on its manufacturing capacity plans in order to meet the increasing demand for high quality polysilicon wafers," said Zhu Gong Shan, executive director, chairman and CEO of GCL-Poly. "We are pleased to have Applied Materials join us in our efforts to help our customers bring down the cost-per-watt of solar cells."

"We are excited to have the opportunity to play a role in GCL-Poly's growth strategy and are committed to providing the technology and cost-effective production capability to enable its success," said Dr. Mark Pinto, executive vice president and general manager of Applied's Energy and Environmental Solutions Group. "This important order adds to the growing momentum of the HCT B5 system in the marketplace and validates the unique differentiation of our proven wire saw:
http://www.appliedmaterials.com/news/media-resources/technical-glossary#WIRE_SAW technology."

In addition to advanced equipment, GCL-Poly has purchased Applied E3TM automation software:
http://www.appliedmaterials.com/services-software/library/e3 for process monitoring and control, and extended maintenance support to optimize system output and reduce costs. This contract represents one of the most significant combined investments in equipment automation software and support services by any crystalline silicon solar manufacturer to date.

"The GCL order is a testimony to the HCT B5 system's compelling economic advantages for customers: higher annual output and lower overall cost-per-wafer than any wire saw available today," said Jean-Maurice Imbert, vice president and general manager of Applied's Precision Wafering Systems:
http://www.appliedmaterials.com/technologies/solar/crystalline-silicon/precision-wafering division. "We look forward to working with leading customers like GCL-Poly to continue to drive down the cost of solar power with our advanced wafering systems."

For more information on the full line of Applied Materials solutions for solar PV manufacturing, please visit www.appliedmaterials.com/technologies/solar:
http://www.appliedmaterials.com/technologies/solar.

Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT) is the global leader in providing innovative equipment, services and software to enable the manufacture of advanced semiconductor, flat panel display and solar photovoltaic products. Our technologies help make innovations like smartphones, flat screen TVs and solar panels more affordable and accessible to consumers and businesses around the world. At Applied Materials, we turn today's innovations into the industries of tomorrow. Learn more at www.appliedmaterials.com:
http://www.appliedmaterials.com/.

###

* Data from PHOTON Consulting LLC, March 2011.

Contact:
Ji Lin:
mailto:ji_lin@amat.com?subject=Press-Release (China media) (+86) 158.0177.4508
Connie Duncan:
mailto:connie_duncan@amat.com?subject=GCL-Release (editorial/media) (+1) 408.563.6209
Michael Sullivan:
mailto:michael_sullivan@amat.com?subject=Press-Release (financial community) (+1) 408.986.7977

Picture caption: "Mr. Shu Hua, executive president of GCL-Poly Energy Holdings and Dr. Mark Pinto executive vice president of Applied Materials, signed the contract to purchase the Applied HCT B5 systems at the headquarters of GCL-Poly in Suzhou, China."


Picture::
http://hugin.info/143724/R/1513485/449305.jpg


This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of Thomson Reuters clients.

The owner of this announcement warrants that:
(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the
information contained therein.

Source: Applied Materials via Thomson Reuters ONE
HUG#1513485