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Post by Rames, a knowledgable solar trader that lives in Germany ...
Solars get a boost from German regional elections. The pro-nuclear Merkel government lost their key state yesterday, and the Green Party will lead a German state for the first time in its history. This is a big positive for German solar companies, also a positive for Chinese companies and SPWRA.
I would be very careful with cadmium based solar tech (FLSR especially) as cadmium is highly toxic and doesn't go well with "protecting the environment". FSLR's lobbying power prevented its product from getting banned so far, however the Greens are usually the only credible party when it comes to environmental protection.
Problems for FSLR should be very good for Natcore.
G/L
JB
Read the link in Post 27765. They're bitching about the warrents they exercised in October. They didn't have to exercise those warrants. That's why it's hard to imagine what they're up to.
JB
Yeah crazy, according to Starr, if CCME isn't a fraud, it's still their fault if Starr paid to much for shares. This whole Starr argument makes no sense. I wonder what they are trying to accomplish.
JB
Hard to explain this ...
Starr is bitching about the 1 1/2 million shares they bought in October.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-21/greenberg-s-starr-sues-china-mediaexpress-alleging-fraud.html
Starr says, "Even if CCME should prove not to be a fraud, plantiff purchased CCME's securities at artificially inflated prices and was damaged thereby".
JB
Another email from Natcore. The company plans to manufacture two A/R machines simultanuously. This should speed up delivery to TLNZ Solar.
Last week I sent you the release announcing that we’re manufacturing our first piece of equipment at MicroTech Systems in San Jose, CA. This intelligent processing station will have very high-end thickness and temperature control systems integrated into its operations.
We are working with our General Manager in Natcore Asia to determine specific needs and requirements of TLNZ Solar. We will no doubt be manufacturing two pieces of equipment simultaneously: one for TLNZ and one for our own lab. TLNZ’s equipment will be built in the United States and fine-tuned in China once we understand precisely what they require for their production line. The news release that appears below was distributed to the press at 8 am EDT (5 am Pacific) today. It describes Natcore’s agreement with TLNZ Solar to install our antireflective coating equipment into their production line
The timing on both of these is consistent with our original planning.
Hope things are well. If you have any questions, give me a call.
Natcore Technology Signs Agreement
For First Sale
Chinese Company to Introduce Natcore AR Equipment
Into Their Solar Production Line
Red Bank, NJ — (March 22, 2011) — Natcore Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXF.PK) has signed a letter of understanding to sell its first intelligent antireflective (AR) coating processing station to Hunan TLNZ Solar Technology Co. Ltd. (TLNZ) of Xiangtan, China.
Natcore believes its device will revolutionize the way that solar cells are made. It will replace the expensive and environmentally harmful chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method currently used by industry with a liquid phase deposition (LPD), or wet chemistry, process. Exclusively licensed from Rice University, the Natcore LPD process grows an AR coating on solar cells while reducing cost, environmental damage, and energy and raw material requirements.
Natcore began building its processing station on March 15. It is expected that completion of the first production phase will take eight to ten weeks. After extensive testing and adjustments, if necessary, the device will be shipped to TLNZ in China. The sale closing is contingent upon a successful test by TLNZ.
Late last year, Natcore sent several silicon wafers with AR coatings prepared by its researchers to TLNZ for finishing and testing. TLNZ analyzed the composition and quality of the Natcore-supplied films, added metal front and back contacts to the cells, and tested their efficiency. Cell efficiencies as high as 15% were measured for this first-ever test of Natcore’s AR coating technology using actual production solar cells. Importantly, the standard deviation of efficiencies for the entire batch of cells was within normal industry acceptance limits. The results demonstrate that Natcore’s LPD AR coating technology is completely compatible with standard silicon solar cell production methods and can be easily integrated into existing solar cell manufacturing facilities.
TLNZ also identified the process steps to be included in a commercial production system that would enable cells using Natcore’s AR coating technology to routinely reach or exceed 17% efficiency in production.
Natcore is designing its processing station in a modular fashion. Every processing station will have the ability to monitor the coating process throughout and to accurately measure the thickness of the AR coating on a wafer while it is submerged in a chemical bath. Beyond that, however, some will be fully automated, for example, or able to automatically recharge the bath in which the cells are coated. Others will be able to alter the composition and duration of the bath in order to produce cells with greater simplicity and a high degree of precision.
“We have designed this product so we can add and subtract components based on the needs of our customers” says Natcore President and CEO Chuck Provini. “This means that we can build machines across a wide range of complexity, capabilities and price and accommodate the specific needs of individual manufacturers. Some solar cell producers will want the fully automated version whereas others may prefer a version that involves a more manual process, because of availability of inexpensive labor.”
Hunan TLNZ Solar Technology Co., Ltd. is a high-tech solar energy enterprise with facilities covering 133,000 square meters and a total investment of 800 million Yuan (about US$122 million). The company has plans to expand from an intitial production rate of 25MW to 200 MW. Located in the Photovoltaic Industry Park within the Xiangtan State High and New Technology Development Area, Hunan Province, it stands as the first enterprise of its kind in the park. TLNZ is situated in the center of Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan economic development circle. Natcore has formed a joint venture in Zhuzhou to build its intelligent AR coating processing stations.
JB
Yes futr, the latest developments are very positive and have me considering adding to my position, again! We are looking good long term.
The next 1 1/2 months could be pretty wild though. Of course, I want to be ahead of any Natcore/Kodak developments. Other noteworthy events are the holding period expirations for the last PP ...
4/23/11 ... 2,469,333
5/5/11 ... 1,563,233
The expiry date for options with a .75 strike price are ...
5/8/11 ... 3,934,026 # as of 9/30/10
8/31/11 ... 2,886,576 # as of 9/30/10
I don't have a clue as to what will be done with all of these shares. My gut feeling is that some will be sold. However, my belief is that positive Natcore/Kodak news will trump any other events.
Hmmmmm,
JB
An NT may be applicable if a company expects to file their 10-K within 15 days. An 8-K may be appropriate if the length of the delay is unknown.
JB
CCME notified the Nasdaq and shareholders of their late filing when they requested the halt. I would think that this is sufficient.
JB
For those interested in researching a solar start-up company, let me suggest Natcore Technology. NTCXF on the pinks, or NXT.V on the Venture exchange. The IHUB NTCXF board has alot of useful info. So does natcoresolar.com.
Below is an email and PR from the company released this week.
Dear Jim,
I am attaching a press release, disseminated this morning, that describes our latest steps towards manufacturing, production and revenue.
The significance of this news is that we have identified a manufacturer that is renowned for building one of the most reliable and sophisticated machines used in the chip and solar industries. By integrating their experience with our technology, I feel we will set the standard for antireflective coating devices. Furthermore, have designed this project modularly so we can add and subtract components based on the needs of our manufacturing customer. We can build machines across a range of complexity, capabilities, and price.
Perhaps the most exciting feature that we have developed with MicroTech is a proactive way to measure the precise thickness of coatings on wafers in a liquid bath. Of all the companies we interviewed, they were the only one to be able to include this important option in Natcore’s equipment.
The first machine will greatly help our scientists refine and improve different coatings for other applications of our technology.
I hope you share my excitement over this newest announcement. Thanks again for your continued support of Natcore.
*****
NEWS RELEASE
Natcore Technology Begins Production of
Intelligent AR Coating Processing Station
System Will Grow Antireflective Coatings on Solar Cells
Red Bank, NJ — (March 15, 2011) —Natcore Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXF.PK) today begins work on the first production model of its intelligent LPD processing station for growing an antireflective (AR) coating on silicon wafers in the process of becoming solar cells.
By using its exclusive technology, licensed from Rice University, Natcore believes its device will revolutionize the way solar cells are manufactured. At present, solar cell manufacture involves an expensive chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method that requires a high-temperature vacuum furnace; highly toxic and flammable silane and other dangerous chemicals; and silicon disks of sufficient thickness to withstand the high-temperature firing.
Conversely, Natcore’s is a liquid phase deposition (LPD), or wet chemistry, process. It grows the AR coating in a warm chemical bath; eradicates the need for silane; dramatically reduces energy requirements; and significantly lowers silicon usage. The resulting solar cells will be less expensive and less environmentally harmful than conventional solar cells.
Natcore is producing its device at MicroTech Systems, Inc., a 15,000 sq. ft. facility located in Fremont, CA. The 25-year-old Silicon Valley company designs and manufactures wet stations for solar, LED, semiconductor, biomedical, data storage and other high technology applications. MicroTech’s intelligent process control will be integrated with Natcore’s LPD technology into a wet process platform.
Natcore’s intelligent LPD process station will be a totally enclosed system that contains a pre-clean subsystem for wafer cleaning before introduction of wafers into the LPD process; an LPD process subsystem incorporating Natcore’s latest sizing and process control input; and MicroTech’s latest drying module specifically designed for low metallic contamination, which is important for optimal solar performance.
But perhaps the major feature of the Natcore device will be its ability to monitor the coating process throughout. Specifically, it will use MicroTech’s spectrometer-based technology to accurately measure the thickness of the AR coating on a wafer while it is submerged in a chemical bath, and can alter the composition and duration of the bath in order to produce cells with greater simplicity and a high degree of precision.
Production will be conducted in two phases. The first phase, estimated to take approximately 8–10 weeks, will result in a manual development system, measuring about 8 ft. x 6 ft. x 6 ft., that will allow Natcore scientists to refine the coating process. At that point, Natcore scientists and MicroTech engineers will determine what changes need to be made and how much automation they want to add in the second and final phase. The final production system will measure about 20 ft. x 6 ft. x 8 ft. high. It will be a self-contained modular system capable of recycling its own effluents and of producing 3,000 AR-coated wafers/hour.
"This device will be adapted from existing, proven equipment already in wide use in industry, but will incorporate Natcore’s LPD technology in exciting new ways,” notes Brien Lundin, Natcore’s Chairman. “The testing that we will do on the initial equipment will have a goal of rapidly introducing our intelligent device into an existing solar cell fabrication line. Dependent upon the results of that testing, we hope to have a product ready for sale in the near future.”
“We’re building our first production model in the U.S., rather than at our China joint venture, for reasons of time, quality, and logistics,” says Chuck Provini, Natcore’s president and CEO. “We want to set the standard for quality and reliability. By building it in California, we can keep a close eye on the machine’s development without the disruption created by a 12-hour time difference and the need to travel halfway around the world. And by choosing MicroTech, we are assured of the highest quality.”
“We have been impressed with Natcore’s vision of bringing cost effective Liquid Phase Deposition into solar cell manufacturing and are excited with the working relationship already established between the companies” says Tom Halloran, Microtech’s Director of Business Development and Program Manager of Microtech.
“We believe that Natcore’s LPD technology truly provides a paradigm shift in driving the cost of solar manufacturing and we wanted to be an integral part of that solution. We feel privileged to have been chosen as the equipment development partner,” states Tom Vukosav, President and CEO of MicroTech Systems Inc.
Best Regards,
Charles R Provini
President & CEO
Natcore Technology, Inc.
87 Maple Avenue, Red Bank, NJ 07701
732-576-8800, fax 732-576-8809
email: provini@natcoresolar.com <mailto:scarpa@natcoresolar.com>
www.natcoresolar.com <http://www.natcoresolar.com/>
Symbol: NXT.V, Toronto Venture Exchange
G/L
JB
Email from company with latest PR. Note in the email that the first machine will help with other applications of their technology.
Nice to see MicroTech's belief of a "paradigm shift".
Dear Jim,
I am attaching a press release, disseminated this morning, that describes our latest steps towards manufacturing, production and revenue.
The significance of this news is that we have identified a manufacturer that is renowned for building one of the most reliable and sophisticated machines used in the chip and solar industries. By integrating their experience with our technology, I feel we will set the standard for antireflective coating devices. Furthermore, have designed this project modularly so we can add and subtract components based on the needs of our manufacturing customer. We can build machines across a range of complexity, capabilities, and price.
Perhaps the most exciting feature that we have developed with MicroTech is a proactive way to measure the precise thickness of coatings on wafers in a liquid bath. Of all the companies we interviewed, they were the only one to be able to include this important option in Natcore’s equipment.
The first machine will greatly help our scientists refine and improve different coatings for other applications of our technology.
I hope you share my excitement over this newest announcement. Thanks again for your continued support of Natcore.
*****
NEWS RELEASE
Natcore Technology Begins Production of
Intelligent AR Coating Processing Station
System Will Grow Antireflective Coatings on Solar Cells
Red Bank, NJ — (March 15, 2011) —Natcore Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXF.PK) today begins work on the first production model of its intelligent LPD processing station for growing an antireflective (AR) coating on silicon wafers in the process of becoming solar cells.
By using its exclusive technology, licensed from Rice University, Natcore believes its device will revolutionize the way solar cells are manufactured. At present, solar cell manufacture involves an expensive chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method that requires a high-temperature vacuum furnace; highly toxic and flammable silane and other dangerous chemicals; and silicon disks of sufficient thickness to withstand the high-temperature firing.
Conversely, Natcore’s is a liquid phase deposition (LPD), or wet chemistry, process. It grows the AR coating in a warm chemical bath; eradicates the need for silane; dramatically reduces energy requirements; and significantly lowers silicon usage. The resulting solar cells will be less expensive and less environmentally harmful than conventional solar cells.
Natcore is producing its device at MicroTech Systems, Inc., a 15,000 sq. ft. facility located in Fremont, CA. The 25-year-old Silicon Valley company designs and manufactures wet stations for solar, LED, semiconductor, biomedical, data storage and other high technology applications. MicroTech’s intelligent process control will be integrated with Natcore’s LPD technology into a wet process platform.
Natcore’s intelligent LPD process station will be a totally enclosed system that contains a pre-clean subsystem for wafer cleaning before introduction of wafers into the LPD process; an LPD process subsystem incorporating Natcore’s latest sizing and process control input; and MicroTech’s latest drying module specifically designed for low metallic contamination, which is important for optimal solar performance.
But perhaps the major feature of the Natcore device will be its ability to monitor the coating process throughout. Specifically, it will use MicroTech’s spectrometer-based technology to accurately measure the thickness of the AR coating on a wafer while it is submerged in a chemical bath, and can alter the composition and duration of the bath in order to produce cells with greater simplicity and a high degree of precision.
Production will be conducted in two phases. The first phase, estimated to take approximately 8–10 weeks, will result in a manual development system, measuring about 8 ft. x 6 ft. x 6 ft., that will allow Natcore scientists to refine the coating process. At that point, Natcore scientists and MicroTech engineers will determine what changes need to be made and how much automation they want to add in the second and final phase. The final production system will measure about 20 ft. x 6 ft. x 8 ft. high. It will be a self-contained modular system capable of recycling its own effluents and of producing 3,000 AR-coated wafers/hour.
"This device will be adapted from existing, proven equipment already in wide use in industry, but will incorporate Natcore’s LPD technology in exciting new ways,” notes Brien Lundin, Natcore’s Chairman. “The testing that we will do on the initial equipment will have a goal of rapidly introducing our intelligent device into an existing solar cell fabrication line. Dependent upon the results of that testing, we hope to have a product ready for sale in the near future.”
“We’re building our first production model in the U.S., rather than at our China joint venture, for reasons of time, quality, and logistics,” says Chuck Provini, Natcore’s president and CEO. “We want to set the standard for quality and reliability. By building it in California, we can keep a close eye on the machine’s development without the disruption created by a 12-hour time difference and the need to travel halfway around the world. And by choosing MicroTech, we are assured of the highest quality.”
“We have been impressed with Natcore’s vision of bringing cost effective Liquid Phase Deposition into solar cell manufacturing and are excited with the working relationship already established between the companies” says Tom Halloran, Microtech’s Director of Business Development and Program Manager of Microtech.
“We believe that Natcore’s LPD technology truly provides a paradigm shift in driving the cost of solar manufacturing and we wanted to be an integral part of that solution. We feel privileged to have been chosen as the equipment development partner,” states Tom Vukosav, President and CEO of MicroTech Systems Inc.
Best Regards,
Charles R Provini
President & CEO
Natcore Technology, Inc.
87 Maple Avenue, Red Bank, NJ 07701
732-576-8800, fax 732-576-8809
email: provini@natcoresolar.com <mailto:scarpa@natcoresolar.com>
You'd think that he could get 1 out of 3 right.
G/L
CCME notified the Nasdaq of their late filing when they asked for the halt. NT may not be required.
JB
The company notified Nasdaq that their 10-K would be late when they asked for the halt. Not sure if they still have to file NT.
JB
I'm with you Amy. It's too early to throw the company under the BUS.
Also, I like the company's growth prospects, especially Switow.
JB
Well, it has more to do with CCME than TSTC itself. NEP's halt for a forensic audit lasted 3 1/2 months, and their auditor didn't resign beforehand. I expect that the resolution to the CCME debacle will be drawn out, but end favorably. At that point this sector will likely move higher, I think.
My .84 bid for the Aug 7.50 calls were filled on Tuesday. I felt that I would not be able to buy them lower in the future. As I write this the bid is 1.10, ask is 1.40.
I also bought CHBT Jan 12.50 calls on Tuesday.
G/L
JB
Bought a few Aug calls.
JB
Bought a few Jan calls.
JB
Yea, this article was posted on the board Saturday. Pretty funny huh.
JB
If I had a business in China, and was doing business with CCME, I would welcome the opportunity to help CCME crush the financial terrorists.
I don't believe that any of this will damage CCME's business.
JB
Check out this article written about Roddy Boyd. Check out the comments. I especially liked the one that said if someone gave Roddy an enema, he could live in a shoe box.
http://www.deepcapture.com/roddy-boyd-sucks-it-like-hes-paying-the-rent/
JB
Why? Because you're short?
JB
If another auditing firm is coducting a forensic audit, there might be friction between the 2 auditors, or DTT won't sign off on their audit until the forensic audit is completed and this has pissed off CCME. Who knows?
2/17 ... From Global Hunter ... Extensive due diligence reinforces our thesis. Maintain Buy. ... General Manager of Eadings e-commerce division believes the consumer group CCME has is a quality group and that the Switow project is a very smart idea for CCME.
I find it likely that another advertiser or internet group will, at some point, want to purchase a stake in Switow.
JB
In the 2/1 letter to shareholders, the ceo said that they expect to file on time. I expect them to file on time as well. We'll see.
JB
"bank on", I don't know about that. Those hit piece writers could be long by now. If they did any DD, they know the company is legit.
JB
RP, you state that you are talking to people on the ground in China. Ping Luo has been inside the company reviewing company documents and cash. Who should we believe?
After twisting around GH's report, with you stating that Ping Lou was only able to verify 50% of revenue, you don't think anybody will believe anything you say ever again, do you?
It appears that you are whoring yourself out to the financial terrorists!
JB
What kind of responsibility will you take for ignoring the facts and poluting the board with your posts?
JB
Great post. Reading that is a fine way to end the week. There's so much potential.
IN
JB
No, hedge funds go short one day and long the next. No need to worry about the day to day action.
imo, JB
Positive price action after climax sell off.
http://finviz.com/quote.ashx?t=ccme
JB
Super, thanks for posting!
JB
Oh well, at least your blog gave the longs something to laugh about, right?
Now, please reveal the gray areas you alluded to. Then we can all laugh out loud.
Thanks,
JB
I have a friend that has never heard of China. Jacky hasn't told me that there is a China. So, China doesn't exist.
JB
K;
You choose to be pessimistic, I don't.
GL,
JB
It looks like the shorts are trying to make another run at stop losses.
JB
I am looking for a P/E of 15 before the second qtr earnings release based on ...
All doubts of fraud extinguished
Excellent full year 2010 and qtr 1, 2011 earnings releases and guidance
Shorts covering
Share buyback announcement and dividend
Tour bus start up
Additional inter-city and airport bus contracts
Switow showing huge potential
A slew of possitive PR's and news articles
GH and Northland raising price targets
Remember, we're only talking about a PE of 15 here!
JB
Thank You wctbills for all you've done.
I disagree with you regarding your pps assessment for CCME. I feel that the stock will trade at a 15 P/E multiple after qtr 1 results are released in May.
I agree that we will need high visability coverage to attain a P/E in the 20's.
JB
Pearson Nitwit? lol
JB
In their 2/1 response to the Citron BS, CCME stated that they expect to announce their audited financial results on time. They have confidence and so do I. See the response on the website ccme.tv
JB