Corporate | 28 August 2008 11:59
NEW VALUE AG / Miscellaneous
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Zurich, August 28, 2008
3S Industries AG announces the half-year results and introduces a new
product line
New Value's portfolio company 3S Industries AG triples sales and EBIT and
enters the business of fully automated production lines
3S Industries AG, Lyss, a portfolio company of New Value (SWX: NEWN), has
released the half-year results today in an ad-hoc announcement. Net sales
and EBIT tripled. Further 3S has developed a completely new kind of fully
automatic production line for the manufacturing of solar modules. The
company will be introducing this line at the European Photovoltaic Solar
Energy Conference and Exhibition in Valencia the following week.
3S Industries AG, the world's technological leader for automatic string
soldering machinery, laminating lines and testers for solar module
production, again grew at an above-average rate in the first half of 2008.
Net sales and EBIT tripled to CHF 30.5 million and CHF 3 million
respectively. The revenues of Somont GmbH, which was acquired by 3S
Industries AG on 4. August, 2008, are not yet included in the half-year
results. They will be consolidated from August onwards and will flow into
the annual results for 2008. The group confirms its sales forecast and
profit target fort he full year. For the 2008 financial year, 3S Industries
expects sales revenues of CHF 110 million and an EBIT margin of more than
10 percent. 3S is listed at the Berne eXchange (BX: SSS). Actually 3S has
174 employees compared to 55 employees at the end of 2007. New Value is
holding a stake of 12.38% in 3S Industries AG.
Entrance in the business of fully automated production lines
Dr. Patrick Hofer-Noser, CEO of 3S said, that with the acquisition of
Somont, they now have all the key technologies for the production of solar
modules. 'That has enabled us to develop and implement this new concept of
a fully automatic production line. What this means for our customers is
better, faster and safer production processes at lower costs'. 3S will ship
the first fully automatic production line in the course of 2009.
3S Industries has applied for patents on various innovations which were
gained from development of the equipment. For the automation and the flow
of goods 3S Industries is collaborating with the world's leading expert for
factory automation within the automotive, aerospace and logistics
industries, Güdel Group AG from Langenthal (Switzerland).
New generation of laminators
With the new XL laminator series, 3S will be presenting a second product
novelty at the exhibition in Valencia. This new generation of laminators
enables annual capacities of up to 60 MWp. According to Ronald Lange, Head
of Innovation at 3S, the XL laminator enables the customers to expand their
capacities and produce much more quickly and inexpensively. 'Our proven
technology with the hybrid heating plate guarantees high process safety and
is suitable for crystalline as well as thin layer cells'.
Information about New Value AG
New Value, officially listed at the SWX Swiss Exchange, invests directly in
promising private companies in Switzerland and neighbouring German-speaking
countries with above-average market and growth potential. As an investment
company, New Value promotes innovative business models with venture capital
and accompanies those to market success. The portfolio covers companies of
different stages of development, starting with the market introduction
phase up to medium-sized enterprises with stable profits. A broad
investment approach is deliberately followed regarding industry sectors.
The portfolio contains companies active in renewable energy, medical
technology, health, information technology and new materials. New Value
assigns great value to ethical business concepts and good corporate
governance while selecting their portfolio companies. Criteria such as
meaningfulness, social responsibility and ecological sustainability are
considered by New Value as decisive competitive advantages, which affect
and enhance the quality of products and services offered and thus,
facilitate an above average increase of value potential. Since the
formation of New Value, EPS Value Plus AG, Zurich, has served as investment
manager.
Contact
New Value AG Tel. +41 43 344 38 38
Rolf Wägli Tel. +41 43 344 38 11, waegli@newvalue.ch
Peter Letter Tel. +41 43 344 38 18, letter@newvalue.ch
Bodmerstrasse 9 Fax +41 43 344 38 39
CH-8027 Zurich
Information / www.newvalue.ch Email: info@newvalue.ch
Downloads www.epsvalueplus.ch Email: info@epsvalueplus.ch
Contact:
Marcel Rogenmoser
28.08.2008 Financial News transmitted by DGAP
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Language: English
Issuer: NEW VALUE AG
Bodmerstrasse 9
8027 Zürich
Schweiz
Phone: +41-43-344 38 38
Fax: +41-43-344 38 39
E-mail: info@newvalue.ch
Internet: www.newvalue.ch
ISIN: CH0010819867
WKN: 552932
Listed: Freiverkehr in Berlin, Stuttgart, München, Düsseldorf; Open
Market in Frankfurt; Foreign Exchange(s) SWX
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