The medium-sized enterprise, which manufactures mounting systems for solar applications, plans to increase its international share of sales from the current 50%, managing director, Stefan Spork told pv magazine.
An important new target market is Japan. Recently, the Rangsdorf manufacturer sold its mounting system to a Japanese EPC partner for 25 MW worth of solar parks. To further expand on this business area, a Japanese subsidiary will be established by mid-year.
At the same time, the company is examining the extension and optimization of contract manufacturing in China, in order to supply to the Japanese market and other key growth areas in Asia, like Thailand. Currently the products from Mounting Systems' production in Germany and the U.S. are exported to Japan.
"The Gulf region is an important future market for us, especially Saudi Arabia," Spork emphasized. Negotiations are already being held with local partners, and discussions over the supposed local content requirements. He added that Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria are important markets, along with the U.S., where Mounting Systems has its production operations since 2011 in Sacramento, California.
The foreseen effects of the current EU trade case have also further driven the need for internationalization. "We expect more expensive module prices, which affects in particular our large-scale installation business," Spork added in the interview.
Solar parks and large rooftop installations currently comprise over 70% of the company's sales.
Translated by Shamsiah Ali-Oettinger.
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