SOLON and Andersen Corporation Announce Exclusive Agreement for Solar Technology Innovation

SOLON Corporation, one of the largest providers of turnkey solar power plants and PV products in the U.S., today announced it has signed an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with Andersen Corporation, for use of its innovative Fibrex® material within the photovoltaic (PV) market.

Fibrex material from Andersen, a novel composite, combines the strength and stability of wood with the low-maintenance features of vinyl. The Fibrex material technology has many benefits for use within SOLON PV solutions, including high durability, stiffness, moisture and heat resistance, non-conductivity, and thermal insulating properties. These characteristics help ensure that PV products do not require grounding, while reducing heating and cooling requirements. An added benefit is that the material is extremely lightweight, making it an attractive option for PV racking materials. Highly sustainable, the patented Fibrex composite material contains 40 percent pre-consumer reclaimed wood fiber from Andersen’s manufacturing operations and polymers, a portion of which are also reclaimed.

SOLON will launch its first PV product using the Fibrex material – a revolutionary commercial rooftop system, at Solar Power International on October 17 in Dallas, Texas.

"Fibrex material from Andersen brings new, sustainable features to SOLON’s technology," said Scott Koenig, General Manager of Andersen’s Fibrex Strategic Operations Group. "We’ve used Fibrex material with great success in our window products for nearly 20 years and we’re proud to be incorporating Fibrex material into proven renewable energy solutions by SOLON.”

"SOLON’s agreement with Andersen Corporation represents the aligning of two companies both laser focused on innovation,” said Dan Alcombright, Chief Executive Officer and President of North America for SOLON. "This arrangement offers numerous opportunities to deliver innovative products to the residential, commercial and utility-scale PV markets. The unique Fibrex material properties are the ideal solution to the specific needs of these markets—for products that are fast, versatile, simple to install and lightweight.”

About Andersen Corporation

Andersen is a privately-owned business founded in 1903 by Danish immigrant Hans Andersen and his family. Andersen Corporation, headquartered in Bayport, Minnesota, is now an international enterprise employing over 9,000 people in locations across North America with sales worldwide.

Andersen was among the first window companies in the nation to meet ENERGY STAR performance requirements in all geographic regions and was awarded the 2011 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year award for the Product Manufacturer—Windows category for its family of brands. The company was the first window and door manufacturer with Green Seal certified products that meet the organization’s energy efficiency requirements and their manufacturing requirements for packaging in a consistent, environmentally responsible manner.

In addition, Andersen holds Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody certification (COC) from Scientific Certification Systems. By obtaining this COC certification, Andersen is able to manufacture and deliver FSC wood-based products that help achieve LEED Materials and Resource credits, or in other sustainable building programs where applicable.

For more information, visit www.andersenwindows.com.

"Fibrex” is a registered trademark of Andersen Corporation.

About SOLON Corporation

SOLON Corporation (www.SOLON.com) is a leading provider of utility-scale and large commercial photovoltaic (PV) system solutions to the North American market. SOLON delivers complete and cost-effective turnkey PV systems to its partners with a streamlined approach from project development, design and construction to financing and operation. With NA headquarters in Tucson, AZ and offices in Phoenix and San Francisco, SOLON is driven by a passion for innovation and a commitment to providing superior solar solutions with unrivalled quality and reliability. Founded in 2007, SOLON Corporation is a subsidiary of SOLON SE, a leading international provider of solar solutions for residential, commercial and utility-scale applications. SOLON SE operates subsidiaries in Germany, Italy, France and the U.S. with more than 800 employees worldwide.