Science & Technology
Wed, September 5, 2012 
BEDFORD, Mass.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Spire Corporation ("Spire") (Nasdaq: SPIR), a global solar company providing capital equipment and turn-key manufacturing lines to produce photovoltaic ("PV") modules and providing engineering, procurement and construction ("EPC") integration services for solar systems announced today that its latest PV module design and Bill of Materials (BOM) have achieved the Master UL Listing by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL). Spire worked closely with FLEXcon for back sheet material, and Arkema for encapsulation materials to design this latest approved module. This module joins Spireas previous listings, and allows Spire customers more selection in choosing a module design and BOM that is pre-approved by UL.
"Our customers can receive the UL mark within three weeks from startup as opposed to a typical four months lead time from competitors without the UL Listing. Also, startup costs to enter the U.S. market are significantly lower for our customers"
UL is a global independent organization that conducts safety testing and certification of products. PV system integrators require UL 1703 certified PV modules due to the high safety and quality standards of their installed PV systems. UL has tested and evaluated Spireas PV module design and determined that it meets the UL 1703 standards for safety and performance.
In addition to the safety and performance qualification, Spireas newest module design with UL Master Listing incorporates several customer benefits, including:
- Faster time to achieve UL certification,
- Fraction of the total cost to submit a module for design-type qualification,
- Minimal risk of failing UL testing,
- Module design and BOM can be retroactive for previous customers of Spire, and
- Made with FLEXcon backsheet which utilizes the proven protection of Kynar film to enhance durability.
aWith the Master UL Listing certification providing confirmation of Spire's quality and safety, customers can be completely confident deploying our module design, which reinforces Spireas dedication to quality, innovation, and commitment to provide our customers the best available module designs and materials, and materials supply chain solutions,a said RogerG.Little, Chairman and CEO of Spire Corporation. aOur customers can receive the UL mark within three weeks from startup as opposed to a typical four months lead time from competitors without the UL Listing. Also, startup costs to enter the U.S. market are significantly lower for our customers,a concluded Mr.Little.
About FLEXcon
FLEXcon is a global company in the PV market with over 50 years of experience in adhesive coating and laminations. For more information, visit [ www.FLEXcon.com/PV ].
About Arkema, Inc.
Arkema, Inc. is a global chemical company and Franceas leading chemicals producer. For more information, visit [ www.arkema.com ].
About Spire Corporation
[ Spire Corporation ] is a global solar company providing capital equipment and turn-key production lines to manufacture PV modules. For further details on the Company and its products, please visit [ www.spirecorp.com ].
Kynar is a registered trademark of Arkema, Inc.
Certain matters described in this press release including those relating to Spireas prospects for growth constitute forward-looking statements under the federal securities laws.The discussion of forward-looking information requires management of the Company to make certain estimates and assumptions regarding the Companyas strategic duration and the effect of such plans on the Companyas financial results.These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk of dependence on market growth, competition and dependence on government agencies and other third parties for funding contract research and services, as well as other factors described in the Company's Form10-K and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in the press release speak only as of the date of this release. Subsequent events or circumstances occurring after such date may render these statements incomplete or out of date. The Company undertakes no obligation and expressly disclaims any duty to update such statements.
