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Unirac enhances PV mounting technology to support laminate modules

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, October 15, 2008 — Unirac Inc., North America’s leading manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) mounting solutions, today announced the launch of their Laminate RapidRac PV mounting solution for flat roof commercial systems which is being showcased at Solar Power International 2008, in San Diego, CA, from October 14 to 16, 2008.

This latest solution from Unirac has been engineered to rack frameless laminate modules in flat roof ballast applications. This enhancement to the RapidRac product line reflects Unirac’s ongoing commitment to installers to provide freedom and flexibility with industry-leading technology engineering.

“Unirac continues to innovate and expand the RapidRac product line and offer installers highly engineered mounting technology designed with experienced customer input,” said Doug May, Unirac CEO. “We have worked very closely with our customers to ensure the new Laminate RapidRac solution meets and exceeds their requirements. We are excited about showcasing our expanded line of products at Solar Power International 2008, the biggest North American tradeshow for solar energy.”

Unirac has continued to enhance RapidRac since its introduction to the PV market in September 2007. RapidRac now has configurations that can reduce ballast to less than 3 Pounds per Square foot (PSF). With a simple 4 page installation guide, one tool, and 6 components, installation has never been faster or easier. Time trials have proven RapidRac is being installed at 1kW per man hour.

RapidRac is accompanied by a technical support system that provides complete installation and code compliance documentation for quick permitting, custom design assistance, and field support for large projects. Unirac provides installers with complete solutions and has committed their business to innovation, leadership and working closely with partners in the PV mounting industry.

Installers are also able to get RapidRac installation instructions (as well as instructions on most of our other mounting solutions via Unirac Mobile, an industry leading micro-site accessible from mobile devices such as cellular phones, blackberries and PDAs. Go to www.unirac.com/mobile or visit our booth at Solar Power International 2008 in San Diego for more details on this free service.

For the complete lineup of Unirac PV mounting solutions and services, visit the Unirac booth #1517 at Solar Power International 2008 in San Diego, CA, from October 14 to 16, 2008.

Next Generation SunFrame® System Adds Strength, Simplifies Grounding

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, October 06, 2008 — Unirac Inc., North America’s leading manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) mounting solutions, today announced the launch of a new improved SunFrame® shared rail system.

Available for purchase now, the redesigned SunFrame® rail provide additional strength with improved grounding methodology, while retaining the superior aesthetics that have distinguished SunFrame® since its introduction in 2003.

SunFrame® is also newly certified to be code compliant to IBC 2006, ASCE 7-05 and California Building Code 2007.  With attachment spans up to 50% longer than previously certified, SunFrame® can be installed faster with fewer penetrations than its previous design. Unirac provides a rail system estimator online that quickly generates estimates for multiple component options and configurations.

The improved system will also debut on October 13 at Unirac's booth (1516) at Solar Power 2008 in San Diego, CA.

"We are committed to delivering innovative solutions to our customers that address their requirements," said Douglas May, Unirac CEO, “We are excited to showcase the recent improvement to our very successful SunFrame® rail system at Solar Power 2008 in San Diego, the biggest North American tradeshow for solar energy. Complete installation and code compliant documentation is one of the many services Unirac offers to provide an easy building permitting process.”

The new generation of SunFrame features a unique design at the base of the rail, proven through structural engineering tests performed at Unirac labs to provide more strength, while maintaining the same competitive pricing.

As always, SunFrame® is anodized to match black or silver module frames and includes all the installation-friendly features of our original SunFrame®.


Unirac Chosen by BP Solar to Support 1.2 MW Colorado State University -- Pueblo Project

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, September 30, 2008 — Unirac Inc., North America’s leading manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) mounting solutions, is pleased to be selected by BP Solar to supply a custom ground mount solution for a 1.2 MW solar array at Colorado State University - Pueblo. When completed, the array will be one of the largest at an education facility in the United States. Estimated to contribute more than 10 percent of the University’s electricity needs, BP Solar expects the project to begin producing energy in late 2008.

Unirac’s Custom Solutions Division designed the racking technology to mount approximately 7,000 modules along a strip of land that could not easily serve any other purpose. Custom hardware was developed by the Unirac team to accommodate the unique soil conditions, landscape and cost targets. The Division develops solutions and provides on-site installer training and racking design to maximize the size of a custom PV system. BP Solar and CSU benefit from low installation costs and a dedicated, professional service and support staff.

 “We’ve completed many projects using Unirac’s mounting systems in the past, and we knew Unirac could come up with a design to work for Colorado State University” said Bill Poulin, Director of Commercial Projects for BP Solar.  “Unirac provided four options that satisfied the complex design parameters necessary to mount such a large array in that area of the campus."

U-LA (Unirac Large Array) solutions are designed to meet a wider range of site and environmental conditions than any other PV mounting structure on the market. U-LA aluminum or steel components merge with Unirac’s SolarMount rails to form durable, rigid truss structures. It's a cost-effective mounting solution that has grown with the vision of the PV industry. Today, Unirac solutions are routinely used to install hundreds of kilowatts, to megawatts per installation.

“We are pleased to have been chosen by BP Solar to engineer a custom ground mount solution that meets the design challenges of the CSU site,” says Douglas May, Unirac CEO. “It reflects the strength of the Unirac product line and our ability to meet evolving market challenges. We are committed to supplying customers with solutions that meet or exceed their requirements.” 

Unirac delivers instant support with industry-leading mobile solution

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, August 4, 2008 — Unirac Inc., North America’s leading manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) mounting solutions, today announced the launch of Unirac Mobile; an industry-leading, innovative approach to providing service and support to installers and system integrators in the PV industry. Starting today, Unirac customers will be able to instantly access technical support and installation information from the Unirac Mobile micro-site using their mobile devices such as cellular phones, blackberries and PDAs.

Unirac Mobile is the latest innovation from Unirac that reflects their ongoing commitment to providing the quickest, simplest and most-cost effective installation solutions. Offering installers easy access to critical information at their fingertips, Unirac Mobile will significantly speed the installation process and help save installers time and money. 

“We continue striving to be the easiest partner to do business with in the PV mounting industry," said Douglas May, Unirac CEO. "We are committed to delivering innovative solutions to our customers that address their requirements, and we believe Unirac Mobile delivers by providing access to support; anytime, anyplace, anywhere."

The Unirac Mobile micro-site is designed with complete step-by-step installation and grounding instructions for Unirac's SolarMount, SunFrame and RapidRac solutions. Customers can register quickly and easily from their computers at www.unirac.com/mobile, and once completed, they will receive a text message and link on their mobile device, granting them immediate access to the site. Unirac Mobile is free and available to all Unirac customers, though normal data rates by carrier will apply.

"We highly commend Unirac on this innovative solution that addresses the priorities of installers and integrators in the industry," said Tom McCalmont, REgrid Power CEO and SolarTech Chairman.

Unirac Mobile is the first of its kind to be launched in the PV mounting industryand is just one of the many services Unirac provides as part of their complete solution offering, designed to make the PV installation process easier, quicker and more cost-effective for installers and system integrators.

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