The new-look Wuxi Suntech plans an expansion of its sales team in Europe with the UK picked out as a particularly strong prospect.
In a carefully worded statement, the company, which is in the process of being acquired by Shunfeng Photovoltaics, said it was “owner of the ‘Suntech’ brand” and “completely independent of its former parent company – Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd”.
“As a reemerging company with minimal debt and a healthy balance sheet, we are focused on increasing our capacity and staff in key markets and are also looking closely at several strategic acquisitions in Europe in 2014,” said Eric Luo, the new CEO of Suntech. He added that the company expects to manufacture and ship 2.5GW of modules in 2014, 20% more than it did during its peak in 2011.
The company will be at the Ecobuild exhibition in London next week as it looks to kickstart its sales drive in Europe.
“We are placing much attention on the UK solar PV market which ranked sixth in solar PV capacity added in 2013,” said Ping Xu, Suntech’s director of sales for Europe. “During the first quarter of 2014 we expect the UK to become the largest solar market in Europe for the first time ever. This is a great opportunity and we believe we have the right resources to support the UK solar market,” he added.
An ongoing dispute between former subsidiaries of Suntech Power Holdings has held up the closing of the deal for Wuxi Suntech’s acquisition by Shunfeng.