The Spire-supplied turnkey module line at FCI Otisville is to be operated by inmates who will be trained to find employment in the rapidly growing United States solar industry.
BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spire Corporation (Nasdaq: SPIR), a global solar company providing turnkey solar factories and capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic (PV) modules worldwide, today announced that it has received a contract worth $54,940,000 from the Federal Prison Industries, Inc, otherwise known as UNICOR, to supply solar cells for the Spire-installed Turnkey Photovoltaic Module Factory located at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Otisville, New York.
UNICOR is a wholly-owned government corporation that is authorized to operate industries in federal correctional institutions and disciplinary barracks throughout the United States. The Spire-supplied turnkey module line at FCI Otisville is to be operated by inmates who will be trained to find employment in the rapidly growing United States solar industry. Modules manufactured at FCI Otisville will be sold for government installations. Successful performance of the factory may lead to similar factories at other UNICOR locations.
Roger G. Little, Chairman and CEO of Spire Corporation said, “We are excited to win this solar cell supply contract with UNICOR, which complements our existing services to UNICOR in supplying not only the turnkey module manufacturing line, but also the process technology and training to operate the line, as well as assistance in qualifying the factory and its modules to international standards and certification. The United States represents a huge growing market for photovoltaics. We are delighted to play a leading role in the training of people for this industry which requires more and more skilled labor.”
Nader M. Kalkhoran, Spire’s Vice President of Business Development stated that, “In addition to providing our clients with the most sophisticated PV manufacturing equipment, Spire strives to offer a full range of support services to its clients in order to help them have a competitive edge in the PV market. As a pioneer with over thirty years of leadership in the PV industry, Spire has established key partnerships with a number of leading suppliers of raw materials, including PV wafers and solar cells, in order to secure the best value products to our clients from the most reliable sources worldwide”.
Todd Baldau, Public Information Officer for UNICOR said, “UNICOR recognizes the potential for module production to serve the United States Federal Government. It is important to enter quickly and have the factory running, staff and inmates trained, and certification completed. We are excited to be working with Spire, a United States based company who is a global leader in this field.”
UNICOR, Federal Prison Industries, Inc.
UNICOR is a self-sustaining, self-funded corporation established in 1934 by executive order to create a voluntary, real world work program to train federal inmates. UNICOR contributes to the safety and security of our Nation’s correctional facilities by keeping inmates constructively occupied; produce market-price quality goods and services for sale to the Federal Government; operate in a self-sustaining manner; and minimize its impact on private business and labor.
About Spire Corporation
Spire Corporation is a global solar company providing turnkey production lines and capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic modules and cells worldwide. Spire Semiconductor provides processing technology for Spire’s silicon solar cell manufacturing lines and offers custom gallium arsenide cells for solar concentrator systems. For corporate or product information, contact Spire Corporation, “The Turnkey Solar Factory Company,” at 781-275-6000, or visit www.spirecorp.com.
Certain matters described in this news release may be forward-looking statements 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 Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
