Applied Materials Names Winfried Hoffmann Chief Technology Officer of Solar Business Group

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Applied Materials announced today that it has named Dr. Winfried Hoffmann the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of its Solar Business Group, and a member of the management board of Applied Materials GmbH, effective April 2, 2007. Dr. Hoffmann, most recently Chairman of Schott Solar GmbH, is recognized globally for his work in the Photovoltaic (PV) industry and adds important experience to Applied’s efforts in the solar equipment market.

“We are excited to have someone with Dr. Hoffmann’s global reputation, knowledge and hands-on experience join our senior technology leadership team,” said Mark Pinto, Applied’s Corporate CTO, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the New Business and New Products Group. “His reputation as a world-renowned technologist in the field of renewable energies, together with his science and engineering relationships throughout Europe, will be a major asset to Applied.”

Dr. Hoffmann will manage technology development for Applied in the U.S., Europe and Asia from the company’s facilities in Alzenau, Germany. Dr. Hoffmann will continue his industry role as President of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) and his leadership role with the German Solar Industry Association (BSW).

Dr. Hoffmann’s career in solar spans nearly 30 years. He started at NUKEM’s solar division in 1979 and took over its leadership in 1985. In 1994, he formed the PV joint venture between NUKEM and Daimler-Benz Aerospace and became Managing Director of ASE (Applied Solar Energy) GmbH and Chairman of the Board of ASE Americas after the acquisition of Mobil Solar. In 2002, he was appointed Chairman of the Management Board at RWE SCHOTT Solar GmbH. With the acquisition by SCHOTT in 2005, Dr. Hoffmann became a Member of the Management Committee of SCHOTT Solar, GmbH. He is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (FhG-ISE) in Freiburg and a Member of the Supervisory Board of the Institute for Solar Energy Research (ISFH) in Hameln, Germany. Visit: http://www.appliedmaterials.com/about/bio_winfried_hoffmann.html

About Applied Materials

Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT) is the global leader in Nanomanufacturing Technology™ solutions with a broad portfolio of innovative equipment, services and software products for the fabrication of semiconductor chips, flat panels, solar photovoltaic cells, flexible electronics and energy efficient glass. At Applied Materials, we apply Nanomanufacturing Technology to improve the way people live. Learn more at www.appliedmaterials.com.