International technology company Schott AG of Mainz, Germany, inaugurated a production plant for manufacturing solar receivers at its site in Mitterteich, Bavaria, today. "Receivers are a key component of the solar thermal parabolic trough power plants, which will become an important source of power in the future. We are the technology leader with our receiver and are now shifting from pilot production of small quantities to industrial serial manufacturing," said professor Udo Ungeheuer, chairman of the Schott board of management. The company has invested 15 million euros in the new facility and created 80 new jobs; its receiver manufacturing now employs 120. The facility has been running at full speed since the beginning of August, Schott said, and has orders to supply receivers for solar power plants currently under construction in Nevada and Andalusia, Spain. The Andalusia project represents the first commercially operated solar thermal power plant in Europe, Schott said. The company also manufactures PV (photovoltaic) solar electricity modules and solar thermal collectors that use solar radiation to generate warm water and heat.