Manz AG

Manz AG is one of the world's leading high-tech suppliers of production systems and an important driver of innovation, helping to achieve breakthroughs in key technologies of our times such as displays and devices for global communication needs, sustainable power generation and storage as well as e-mobility.

As one of the world's leading high-tech equipment manufacturers, Manz AG, based in Reutlingen, Germany, is a pioneer for innovative products in fast-growing markets. The company, founded in 1987, has expertise in seven technology sectors: automation, metrology, laser processing, vacuum coating, wet chemistry, printing and coating, as well as roll-to-roll processes. Manz deploys and further develops these technologies in three strategic fields, the 'Display,' 'Solar' and 'Battery' business segments.

The company, led by founder Dieter Manz, has been listed on the stock exchange in Germany since 2006, and currently operates production facilities in Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Italy, China and Taiwan. Manz AG also has sales and service branches in the USA, South Korea and India. At the beginning of 2015, Manz AG had approximately 1,900 employees, 900 of which work in Asia. Revenue in the past financial year amounted to more than EUR 305 million.

With its slogan “passion for efficiency”, Manz is making a promise to offer its customers – all companies active in important future markets – increasingly efficient production equipment. Like this, the company contributes significantly to reduce the production costs of end products and thereby making them available for a broad range of buyers worldwide. Therefore, Manz is continuously optimising its product portfolio. The aim is to achieve highly reliable production processes on the customer side while steadily improving performance parameters for products manufactured on Manz equipment. This makes the Manz Group animportant driver of innovation, helping to achieve breakthroughs in key technologies of our times, such as sustainable power generation, displays for global communication needs and e-mobility.

In the summer of 2010, Manz signed a cooperation agreement with Würth Solar, Schwäbisch Hall, Germany, that gives Manz access to exclusive know-how in CIGS thin-film technology. After the acquisition of the CIGS modules innovation line of Würth Solar in January 2012, technology licenses were also transferred to the company on an unrestricted basis. Thanks to this agreement, Manz is the first manufacturer in the world offering a turnkey production line for CIGS solar modules that can be operated profitably today. Furthermore, Manz has the largest team of CIGS experts of the complete industry at its disposal. CIGS modules are currently considered the most efficient on the market.

Manz AG has its roots in Baden-Württemberg in Germany, historically one of the cradle regions of German engineering and today one of the world’s leading high-tech regions. Manz employs people from 30 countries and is active in all the important growth markets around the world. With the opening of a new production facility in Suzhou, China, in May 2012, Manz is able to meet current market trends even more effectively.

As part of its commitment to corporate social responsibility, Manz supports a project called “Providing a future – metal workshop in Ethiopia”. This initiative offers vocational training to young people in Ethiopia.

HISTORY

We started off as a classic automation specialist – today we are an established global manufacturer of integrated production systems. Manz’s story is the story of recognizing opportunities early on and making systematic use of them.

The key to our success is the timely diversification of our business model. This makes us independent of the development of individual market sectors and gives us important advantages in global competition.

Market conditions can change quickly and often cannot be controlled even by their own participants. We see these developments as an opportunity, because this is where the great strengths of our company lie. Thanks to our wide footprint andsuccessful cross-industry technology transfer, we can compensate for temporary weakness in one branch by positively developing others. This reduces our dependence on a single industry, makes us more immune to crises, and creates synergies that greatly benefit our customers.

We focus on fast-growing future markets with short product cycles. With our innovative products, we are trailblazers for future development and the emergence of key technologies for our era. Countless components for smartphones, tablet computers, electric vehicle batteries, consumer electronics, stationary energy storage and solar modules are produced with our high-efficiency machines.

Our technologies significantly contribute to lowering the production cost of end products and to making them globally accessible to large groups of buyers.