GT Solar has signed a US$171 million contract with Jiangsu's Glory Silicon Energy Company for GT's new DSS450 furnaces for the production of multi-crystalline silicon ingots to help create solar energy.

Jeff Ford, GT Solar's vice president in Asia, said, "This is the second major order for GT Solar's new DSS450 furnaces that produce larger silicon ingots. It's a key part of Glory's plan to jumpstart its production."

The contract will include deliveries over the next two years. The order will equip what is projected to be one of the largest wafer factories in the world, producing about about 1500MW annually. The DSS450 (Directional Solidification System) furnace is new to GT Solar's equipment line. It is similar to the DSS240, but can grow larger silicon ingots than GT's DSS240 furnace, with an average ingot weight of 400 kilograms, and can deliver 30% more output than GT's DSS240 furnace.

Glory Silicon Energy President Wang LuBao said, "We have turned to GT Solar for its DSS450 furnaces because they are the most technologically advanced on the market today. We look forward to using GT's equipment to produce quality solar wafers for the growing solar marketplace worldwide."