Solar Wafer Manufacturer NexWafe Ramps Up for Growth: Strengthens Management Team for Production Scale-Up
Freiburg, Germany
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November 27, 2023 09:25 AM Eastern Standard Time
NexWafe GmbH strengthens its management team with the appointment of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Rick Schwerdtfeger and André Seemaier as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). These crucial additions to the executive team occur as NexWafe accelerates its transformation to a commercial scale wafer manufacturing operation, having recently broken ground on its first production facility in Bitterfeld, Germany.
“Rick and André are joining NexWafe at a critical inflection point as the company moves forward with commercialization of our direct gas-to-wafer production process,” said Davor Sutija, CEO of NexWafe. “I am confident that with Rick on board, NexWafe will establish its place as a leader in the photovoltaic solar wafer manufacturing industry. With André’s experience in growth stage financing, NexWafe is positioned to secure the funding needed to build out our first commercial scale operation, and secure additional strategic partnerships.”
As CTO, Rick will focus on NexWafe’s readiness for wafer production, chart the company’s technology roadmap, and work to attract talent to NexWafe’s product development teams. Rick is a technology leader with more than 25 years of experience in executive management for multiple high growth start-ups. His areas of expertise include solar, photonics and semiconductor technology.
André started his career in the investment banking division of Goldman Sachs and previously served as the CFO for a fintech startup. His expertise in Corporate Finance and Investment Banking as well as extensive experience in fundraising and managing financial operations, makes him a vital addition to NexWafe, as the company prepares for its Series D funding round.
“NexWafe is well positioned to revolutionize the solar wafer manufacturing industry by setting new standards in efficiency with the lowest carbon footprint. I am excited to join the team, as we scale to deliver high-performance EpiNex™ wafers, that will accelerate the low-carbon future we all need,” said Rick Schwerdfeger, CTO, NexWafe.
About NexWafe GmbH
NexWafe GmbH designs, develops and pilots a proprietary process to produce ultra-thin, high efficiency,monocrystalline green solar wafers to make photovoltaics more sustainable and efficient. Fullycompatible with conventional solar cell manufacturing, NexWafe offers a 70% reduction in carbondioxide emissions during manufacturing. NexWafe’s continuous, direct gas-to-wafer manufacturingprocess also minimizes waste, resulting in wafers that are 30% less expensive than conventional wafers.NexWafe’s in-line, ultra-scalable process shatters cost down roadmap barriers and inherently supportsthe industry’s extraordinary growth as the transition to solar power accelerates worldwide. Thecompany was spun out from Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in 2015. For moreinformation, please visit https://www.nexwafe.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Contact Details
Jenna Beaucage
+1 508-340-6851
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