11-04-2010 Mainz

SCHOTT Solar test centre receives VDE’s TDAP certification

• Certification for VDE Test Data Acceptance Program concluded successfully
• Extensive test expertise verified at Alzenau location
• Accelerated product development and launch

Mainz, 28 October 2010 – SCHOTT Solar’s own in-house test lab for testing new products, processes and materials according to IEC 61215, IEC 61646 and IEC 61730 has been certified by VDE Association for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies. Test reports prepared by the Alzenau test centre are now directly forwarded to VDE, which verifies them and then issues approval for the use of the VDE mark.

The solar manufacturer SCHOTT Solar complies with all required IEC standards in its in-house test lab. This was also verified in an exacting certification process conducted by VDE. Companies have to demonstrate their test capabilities and expertise to qualify for VDE’s Test Data Acceptance Program (TDAP). SCHOTT Solar has now successfully completed this process.

"Achieving VDE certification is confirmation and recognition of the expertise held by SCHOTT Solar. Insights gained at the test centre are now immediately included in product development. This is the basis for us to continually improve our products and enhance our quality," concluded Uwe Fliedner, Director Global Module Development Department at SCHOTT Solar. Dr. Schier, head of the test centre, added: "Thanks to cooperating closely with VDE, we are now also in a position to accelerate our product development processes significantly, as test results are sent to VDE for approval immediately."

Stringent criteria apply for acceptance into VDE’s TDAP Program. Workflows, documentation and test facilities were enhanced with the help of VDE during the nine-month certification phase. Arnd Roth, project manager at VDE Offenbach, confirmed: "The SCHOTT Solar test centre meets the criteria because it is equipped with the required test and measurement devices and prepares the documentation for all tests to our full satisfaction. On top of that, all members of staff employed at the lab have the required qualifications." Qualifications are monitored on a regular basis by VDE in audits it conducts.

Founded in 1883, VDE in its capacity as a regulatory agency is one of the largest technical and scientific associations in Europe. The VDE Testing and Certification Institute is part of the association and is based in Offenbach am Main.

Press photographs can be downloaded from www.schott-pictures.net

This press release can also be found under www.ffpress.net/Kunde/SOL/

SCHOTT Solar AG
Lars Waldmann
Hattenbergstraße 10
55122 Mainz
tel. +49 (0)6131 / 66 14 001
fax +49 (0)6131 / 66 14 003
lars.waldmann@schottsolar.com
www.schottsolar.com

Fink & Fuchs Public Relations AG
Alexandra Mainka
Berliner Straße 164
65205 Wiesbaden
tel. +49 (0)611 - 74131 86
fax +49 (0)611 - 74131 30
alexandra.mainka@ffpr.de
www.ffpress.net