Beneq has been selected as a finalist for Red Herring's Top 100 Europe award, a prestigious list acknowledging the year’s most promising private technology ventures from the European business region.

The chosen finalists reflect the most innovative companies from a pool of hundreds from across Europe. The nominees are evaluated on several criteria, including financial performance, technology innovation, management skills, execution of strategy and integration into their respective industries. This assessment of potential is further complemented by a review of the actual track record and status of a company, which allows Red Herring to see past the “buzz” and make the list a credible instrument for discovering and advocating the greatest business opportunities in the industry.

"This year was very rewarding," said Alex Vieux, publisher and CEO of Red Herring. "The global economic situation has abated and there are many great companies producing really innovative and amazing products. We had a very difficult time narrowing the pool and selecting the finalists. Beneq shows great promise therefore deserves to be among the Finalists. Now we’re faced with the difficult task of selecting the Top 100 winners of Red Herring Europe. We know that the 2011 crop will grow into some amazing companies that are sure to make an impact."

Beneq CEO, Mr Sampo Ahonen, says: “This acknowledgement is very pleasing, as it further assures us at Beneq, our customers and owners alike, that our work is on a sound and credible basis, regardless of who is evaluating our business. We have unique skills within Beneq, and we are eager to put them to work and turn them into success.”

For more information, please contact:
Mr Sampo Ahonen, CEO, Beneq Oy
Tel: +358 40 520 1090
e-mail: sampo.ahonen(at)beneq.com

Beneq Oy, based in Finland, is a supplier of equipment and coating technology for global markets. Beneq turns innovations into success by developing applications and equipment for cleantech and renewable energy fields, especially in glass, solar and emerging thin film markets. Coating applications include optics, barriers and passivation layers, as well as energy generation and conservation. Beneq also offers complete coating services. The coating applications of Beneq are based on two enabling nanotechnology platforms: Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and aerosol coating (nHALO® and nAERO®). www.beneq.com

Beneq, nHALO and nAERO are registered trademarks of Beneq Oy.

Read the news in pdf-format.

The first Beneq-Glaston TFC2000™ line for manufacturing TCO coatings on glass for photovoltaics (PV) has been sold to Asia. The total order is approximately EUR 14 million, of which Glaston’s share is over EUR 4 million. The line delivery is scheduled for Q1 of 2012.

Beneq CEO, Mr Sampo Ahonen, comments: “This is a definitive demonstration of the growing need for high-quality TCO-glass and coating equipment to manufacture it. It is also good proof of the seamless cooperation between Beneq and Glaston, which with this transaction has taken a giant leap forward.”

In September 2010, Beneq and Glaston announced their strategic cooperation for solar glass coating equipment. Results of the collaboration between the companies brought about the new TFC2000™ continuous offline production concept, which enables a commercially affordable way to manufacture high-quality TCO coated glass for the solar industry. The Beneq coating system, featuring unique and proprietary nAERO^® technology, is fully integrated into Glaston’s CHF Pro™ heat treatment line. The TFC2000™ combines world-leading glass and annealing technology with advanced thin film coating for rapidly growing solar applications.”

“The sale of the first TFC2000™ line in such a relatively short period of time is very encouraging and confirms that the joint Beneq-Glaston offering has been well positioned to serve the needs of the growing thin film PV industry with a solution that is unique and competitive”, Glaston CEO Mr Arto Metsänen comments.

For more information, please contact:

Mr Sampo Ahonen, CEO, Beneq Oy
Tel: +358 40 520 1090, e-mail: sampo.ahonen(a)beneq.com

Mr Arto Metsänen, CEO and President, Glaston Oyj Abp
Tel: +358 10 500 500 About Beneq

About Beneq
Beneq Oy, based in Finland, is a supplier of equipment and coating technology for global markets. Beneq turns innovations into success by developing applications and equipment for cleantech and renewable energy fields, especially in glass, solar and emerging thin film markets. Coating applications include optics, barriers and passivation layers, as well as energy generation and conservation. Beneq also offers complete coating services. The coating applications of Beneq are based on two enabling nanotechnology platforms: Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and aerosol coating (nHALO^® and nAERO^®). www.beneq.com

About Glaston
Glaston is an international glass technology company and a pioneer of glass processing technology and service business for glass processing machines. Glaston’s well-known brands are Bavelloni in pre-processing machines and tools, Tamglass and Uniglass in safety glass machines and Albat+Wirsam in software solutions. Through its quality products and services, Glaston aims to be its customers’ most valued partner. As a globally operating company, Glaston serves its customers worldwide in over 20 locations. Glaston’s head office is located in Tampere, Finland. Glaston’s share (GLA1V) is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Small Cap List. www.glaston.net

Read the press release in pdf.

Read the press release in finnish (pdf)

Read the press release in chinese (pdf)