The company’s decision to discontinue that business is the result of production overcapacity and the weak business environment.
Tokyo Electron had started sales and marketing of an end-to-end manufacturing line for the production of thin film silicon PV panels after becoming the Asia-Oceania region sales representative for Oerlikon Solar in 2009.
In 2012, the company had acquired Oerlikon Solar thereby making a full-fledged entry into the thin-film silicon PV panel market.
Tokyo Electron is planning to shift its employees within the solar equipment production segment to some other positions.
The company is also considering to implement streamlining via reductions in personnel at its Swiss subsidiary following downsizing of solar PV panel manufacturing business.
