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ARISE Technologies takes over PV cell factory from Scheuten Solar

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WATERLOO, ON — ARISE Technologies Corporation, which is dedicated to becoming a leader in high-performance, high-quality, cost-effective solar technology, today announced that it has entered into multi-faceted agreements with Scheuten Solar. The agreements will result in ARISE creating a PV (photovoltaic) cell Technology Centre in Germany and create an opportunity to establish a relationship with Scheuten as a potential PV cell customer and modules supplier.

The agreements between ARISE and Scheuten comprise the following.
  • ARISE has signed a lease for the Scheuten PV cell manufacturing plant located in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.  ARISE intends to use the building as a Technology Centre with a pilot production line to commercialize the company's high-efficiency PV cell technology.
  • Scheuten has an option to sell the building and property to ARISE in 2012 at a fixed price; if Scheuten does not exercise its option, ARISE can extend the lease.
  • Scheuten has signed a non-binding letter of intent whereby Scheuten intends to purchase PV cells from ARISE.
  • ARISE has signed a non-binding letter of intent whereby ARISE intends to purchase OEM modules from Scheuten.
  • ARISE has purchased the assets, including inventory, of the Scheuten PV cell manufacturing plant. It is the intention that the payment for the assets will be satisfied through pricing reductions on PV cells sold to Scheuten.
  • ARISE will employ all of the 55 people currently employed at the Gelsenkirchen plant. The employees have agreed to work under the same terms as their existing employment agreement at the Gelsenkirchen plant, ARISE's factory in Bischofswerda, Germany or in the new Technology Centre that ARISE intends to establish. Both parties have worked hard to secure these jobs resulting in a smooth transition for the employees.

"Delivering on our high-efficiency PV cell program is a very important part of our strategy to differentiate ourselves in the marketplace," said Vern Heinrichs, ARISE's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are pleased that we can move forward with this significant step in our technology program at this time. This announcement is the first step of the next phase of our technology commercialization program and we expect that it will take a number of months to finalize the funding, partners, and other aspects required to ramp up this program. We also are pleased that the two letters of intent have the potential to result in the supply of significant megawatts of ARISE PV cells to Scheuten."

"This opportunity between ARISE Technologies and Scheuten Solar represents incremental production and supply above our existing business. We appreciate ARISE's approach of fair prices for high-quality products where each shipment is judged on its own merit," said Frans van der Heuvel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Scheuten Solar. "Both companies have demonstrated their expertise in solar technologies and manufacturing. We expect that the agreements that we have signed will prove very beneficial to our companies, our employees, and our investors."

Since its founding in 1950, Scheuten has become a leading, fast-growing, international high-volume manufacturer of total solutions in glass and solar energy systems. In 2000, the company began to focus on the development and manufacture of solar modules and high-grade solar energy systems. Scheuten now has specialists operating in solar technology, manufacturing, project development, and project realization.

Scheuten's 4,350-square-metre PV cell plant in Gelsenkirchen was built by Shell Solar and started operation in 2000. ARISE has a unique understanding of this factory because Sjouke Zijlstra, who is now the Vice-President and General Manager of ARISE Germany, managed the design, construction, and operations from the inception in 1998 to his joining ARISE in 2007.

"This plant is expected to make an ideal Technology Centre for ARISE. We have been considering for some time the advantages of establishing a Technology Centre in Germany with a pilot production line to assist in commercializing our high-efficiency PV cell technology," said Ian MacLellan, Chief Technology Officer and President of ARISE's Systems Division. "This agreement with Scheuten enables us to establish this Technology Centre with the bonus of developing a new, strong customer opportunity."

"The establishment of this Technology Centre will complement our research activities with Canadian universities and will help us strengthen our activities in Canada. The Gelsenkirchen location is close to a number of leading research institutes and universities. We expect that this will help us attract additional experienced people to further our commercialization process. Acquiring this facility will also save time because building a Technology Centre in Bischofswerda would take longer, and would require cash up front and more cash over the longer term," MacLellan continued.

For more information on Scheuten Solar, visit the company's website at www.scheutensolar.com.
Additional information about ARISE is available at www.arisetech.com.


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