Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: Veeco enters into strategic partnership with Daiyang Metal Co. of Korea to provide GIGS solar cell equipment

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Abstract:
Veeco Receives Initial Multi-Million Dollar Order for CIGS Equipment

Veeco enters into strategic partnership with Daiyang Metal Co. of Korea to provide GIGS solar cell equipment

Plainview, NY | Posted on March 5th, 2009

Veeco Instruments Inc. (Nasdaq: VECO) announced today that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Daiyang Metal Co., Ltd. of Korea, a leader in the production of cold rolled stainless steel, to be its supplier of equipment to manufacture CIGS (copper, indium, gallium, selenium) solar cells. As a first milestone in this relationship, Daiyang has placed an initial multi-million dollar purchase order with Veeco for its complement of FastFlex™ Web Coating Systems to build a thin-film CIGS solar cell production line in Yesan, Korea. This complement of tools is comprised of one Mo (Molybdenum) deposition system, one TCO (Transparent Conductive Oxide) deposition system and two CIGS deposition systems. Veeco currently expects to ship these systems during the fourth quarter of 2009, after which it expects to firm up a follow-on order with Daiyang.

Chan Ku Kang, Chief Executive Officer of Daiyang, commented, "Daiyang Metal has an aggressive multi-year, multi-site plan to become a leading worldwide manufacturer of CIGS solar cells. Our short term goal is to aggressively ramp to 200MW capacity during 2010 and 2011, which will entail the purchase of additional Veeco systems. Ultimately it is our goal to achieve one gigawatt of CIGS production capacity by 2013. We spent a lot of time researching and surveying the suppliers of CIGS manufacturing tools, and were very impressed with the level of process support and collaboration we received from Veeco during that period. We chose Veeco because they are best prepared to meet our manufacturing and technology needs today and in the future."

John R. Peeler, Veeco's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased to be selected by Daiyang as they enter the CIGS solar cell market. This partnership is especially important to us because together, with Daiyang as the substrate manufacturer and Veeco as the production equipment supplier, we can accelerate the solar industry's efficiency roadmap. CIGS is emerging as the next generation solar technology, offering combined benefits of higher efficiencies and lower costs when compared with silicon."

Market research firm Nanomarkets estimates CIGS production capacity will reach 1.4 GW in 2012 and 4.9 GW in 2015 (a 30x increase over 2008's 152 MW). CIGS solar cells offer the broadest range of applications of any thin film solar technology - they can be used in solar farms, in BIPV (building integrated PV), flat and pitched roofs, rooftop shingles and in portable devices.

Piero Sferlazzo, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Veeco's Solar Equipment business, commented, "Daiyang's selection of Veeco is confirmation of our leadership in thermal evaporation sources. Thermal source technology is quickly becoming the preferred CIGS deposition method because it provides customers with high volume, low cost manufacturing solutions that drive down the manufacturing cost per watt."

Veeco's FastFlex platform features flexible architecture with high uptime that can be configured to specific needs, with a choice of rotary or planar magnetrons for high throughput, high temperature effusion sources, and substrate sizes up to one meter wide.

About Daiyang Metal Co., Ltd

Daiyang Metal Co., Ltd. is a manufacturing company which has concentrated on the production of cold rolled stainless steel since 1973. Their products are used for construction materials, kitchen utensils, home appliances and the automobile industry. The Company's headquarters are located in Seoul, Korea. For more information, please visit the Daiyang Metal Co., Ltd. web site at www.daiyangmetal.co.kr

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About Veeco Instruments Inc.
Veeco Instruments Inc. manufactures enabling solutions for customers in the HB-LED, solar, data storage, semiconductor, scientific research and industrial markets. We have leading technology positions in our three businesses: LED & Solar Process Equipment, Data Storage Process Equipment, and Metrology Instruments. Veeco’s manufacturing and engineering facilities are located in New York, New Jersey, California, Colorado, Arizona, Massachusetts and Minnesota. Global sales and service offices are located throughout the U.S., Europe, Japan and APAC.

To the extent that this news release discusses expectations or otherwise makes statements about the future, such statements are forward-looking and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These factors include the risks discussed in the Business Description and Management's Discussion and Analysis sections of Veeco's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and in our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and press releases. Veeco does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

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Contacts:
Fran Brennen
Sr. Director of Marketing Communications
Veeco Instruments Inc.
Terminal Drive
Plainview, NY 11803
Tel 516-677-0200 x-1222
Fax 516-714-1231

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