Well known for providing precision high quality uniform coatings of anti-restenosis drugs onto implantable stents, Sono-Tek has developed the MediCoat DCB system to provide customers with the same high quality coating solution for emerging drug coated balloon devices. Proven worldwide, Sono-Tek’s medical device coating equipment is used by some of the largest medical device manufacturers in R&D and production volume settings.

Ultrasonic nozzles create uniform micron size droplets that readily adhere to surfaces with very little overspray, creating highly repeatable coatings. Capable of spraying at very low flow rates, Sono-Tek coating systems maximize spray material while providing the best functional coatings for implantable medical devices available on the market.

For more information regarding our new MediCoat DCB system, go to http://www.sono-tek.com/balloon-coating/ or email info@sono-tek.com.

A Typical System for Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis Deposition of TCO Layer Chemistries

• Anti-refection onto solar glass
• Phosphoric and boric acid doping
• Solder bus fluxing for silicon solar cells
• Active, buffer and window layer coatings in CdTe and CIGs cells
• Organic solar coatings such as polymers and carbon nanotubes
• NEW! high temperature spray pyrolysis processes for TCO layer deposition.

All of Sono-Tek’s precision spray systems feature non-clogging ultrasonic nozzle technology. Our ultrasonic nozzles produce low velocity atomized spray with uniform micron size droplets. This unique spray adheres to substrates with no bounceback, making ultrasonic spray processes capable of 95%+ effective material usage. When spraying oxide solutions or nanosuspensions, ultrasonic nozzles offer the additional benefit of continuous ultrasonic vibration, keeping particles evenly suspended and breaking up agglomerations, for the most uniform, homogenous coatings. In addition to cost savings of layer materials, ultrasonic spray systems are a fraction of the cost of CVD and sputtering systems, making investment in capital equipment more feasible for startup companies.

Sono-Tek has R&D, pilot line and production volume machines, all of which are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing manufacturing lines. Since all machines use the same ultrasonic nozzle technology, scaling up a process is a smoother transition than other processes such as vacuum deposition.

To find out more about the SNEC trade show you can visit the following link: http://www.snec.org.cn/Default.aspx?lang=en
To find out more about Sono-Tek’s solar cell manufacturing equipment, go to http://www.sono-tek.com/thin-film-overview/ or http://www.sono-tek.com/silicon-solar-coatings/ or email info@sono-tek.com.

Using patented, proprietary ultrasonic nozzle technology, Sono-Tek’s Impact ARRAY system is designed to deposit uniform Transparent Conductive Oxide (TCO) layers in spray pyrolysis applications. Previously, these layers have been formed using CVD or sputtering deposition processes. This new inline ultrasonic spray pyrolysis system gives manufacturers a viable alternative to costly, complicated vacuum deposition techniques.

Spray pyrolysis deposition of TCO chemistries such as ITO and ZnO requires high temperature reactions spraying corrosive acid solutions, with heat tolerances of up to 600 degrees Celcius substrate temperatures. The IMPACT ARRAY coating system is able to meet the difficult corrosive and high temperature challenges of these spray applications for high volume manufacturing. High temperature protected construction with a unique cooling design protects ultrasonics and nozzle components from high temperatures.

Ultrasonic spray processes feature 95%+ effective use of chemistry, resulting in significant saving in expensive materials. The ultrasonic nozzle design provides an easily controllable atomized spray that cannot clog because of the large feed orifice and the self-cleaning ultrasonic vibration.

In a high temperature ultrasonic spray pyrolysis process, precursor solutions such as Zinc are sprayed onto a substrate heated to approximately 450-500o Celcius. The solvent is exaporated in transit and the ZnO cyrstalline film is grown on the substrate surface, often soda-lime or other glass. Substrate temperature often dictates the morphology characteristics of the film.

Sono-Tek has over 35 years of expertise in ultrasonic spray technology, with hundreds of patented spray systems installed worldwide for continuous glass manufacturing and advanced energy applications, including world class service and support. For more information, go to http://www.sono-tek.com/production-volume-tco/ or visit Sono-Tek at booth E3-802 for International Solar Cell Equipment
W1-816 & W1-817 for Thin Film SolarShow.

Ultrasonic nozzles produce highly durable, uniform, pinhole free coatings of carbon based catalyst inks onto fuel cell proton exchange membranes such as Nafion, without deformation of the membrane. Sono-Tek has become the industry’s leader in applying uniform homogeneous dispersion of carbon catalyst ink suspensions. Our unique technology allows greater control of layer thickness, dryness of the spray and uniformity across the surface area and depth of the coating. Ultrasonic vibrations continuously deagglomerate particles and keep them evenly dispersed, resulting in uniform dispersion of precious metal particles throughout the entire coating. This translates to the highest possible functional characteristics of the coating. Ultrasonic coatings are durable and highly repeatable.

For more information regarding the Hannover Messe Exhibition go to http://www.hannovermesse.de/home. For more information regarding Sono-Tek’s ultrasonic coating technology for fuel cells, go to http://www.sono-tek.com/fuel-cell-coating-overview/

Companies may have difficulty finding funding for developing pilot lines for their new innovative products based on past failures of large thin film solar companies. Ultrasonic spray technology may enable significant reductions in manufacturing costs compared to CVD manufacturing equipment as well as savings in raw material for thin film solar startups, making it easier to bring new products to market profitably.

Read the full article in the April May 2012 issue of Asian Solar Magazine: Asian-Solar-April-May-2012 on pages 58-59.

For more information regarding Sono-Tek’s ultrasonic technology for thin film solar, go to http://www.sono-tek.com/cigs-czts-photovoltaic-modules/

Look for Sono-Tek at SNEC PV 2012 May 16-18 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center, booth:
E3-802 for International Solar Cell Equipment
W1-816 & W1-817 for Thin Film Solar Show

Seminar Outline:

Introduction to Basic Ultrasonic Nozzle Theory & Operation
Applications Overview
Product Overview
Group Q&A (individual consultations as time allows)

We will try to tailor the applications and products sections to meet everyone’s interest, please tell us any specific topics or applications you are most interested in.

Registration Details:
Seminar fee is $199 – register before April 26th for a discounted rate of $99
Includes continental breakfast, lunch, and refreshments.
All attendees will also receive a certificate toward FREE Sono-Tek lab testing or discount on purchase of a new system (value up to $1600.00)

Registration Deadline: April 26, 2012
(Registration fee is non-refundable after 4/26/12, full registration price of $199 will be charged after this date)

Go to http://www.sono-tek.com/seminar-registration/ to register.

Space is limited, so don’t delay. This event provides coating professionals with a wealth of information, tips, ideas and ultrasonic coating process improvement techniques not available anywhere else!

Dr. Christopher L Coccio, Chairman and CEO stated “We are very pleased that we have successfully continued to combine revenue growth with increasing profit performance both this year, as well as over the past several years. This year’s results set new records for the Company’s sales and income, and create a favorable platform for continued growth in our new Fiscal Year. So far, our business improvement has been achieved solely by organic growth, and we see continuing opportunities for future expansion.

Our approach is to continue the development of new technology solutions for markets that can benefit from the unique, patented, and differentiated characteristics of our ultrasonic spraying and coating systems. We provide customers with the ability to create precision coatings with little waste and environmental impact, compared to typical alternative spraying systems. We combine our technology systems with skilled application expertise to help our customers introduce this innovative technology into their production lines, and we provide them with both sales and service support from our own dedicated teams as well as a network of trained global distribution partners.

Our results this year have been driven by applications in the electronics, medical device, alternative clean energy, and industrial coatings industries. We also look forward to additional applications in the specialty coatings and food industries, based on trials that are currently underway. We are mindful of the continuing uncertainty of domestic and international economic conditions, and that there could be unevenness in any of our market segments or geographies. But we have created a business that has multiple industrial applications and geographical markets, and this has served us well in the past three years of similarly uncertain times. We are planning for another year of business improvement, and are confident of our ability to react to unanticipated events as we have done in the past.”

For further information, contact Dr. Christopher L. Coccio, at 845-795-2020, or visit our website at www.sono-tek.com

Sono-Tek Corporation is a leading developer and manufacturer of liquid spray coating products
based on its proprietary ultrasonic nozzle technology. Founded in 1975, the Company’s products
have long been recognized for their superior performance, quality, and reliability over conventional
spraying systems technologies.

This earnings release contains forward looking statements regarding future events and the future performance of Sono-Tek Corporation that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These factors include, among other considerations, general economic and business conditions; political, regulatory, competitive and technological developments affecting the Company’s operations or the demand for its products; timely development and market acceptance of new products; adequacy of financing; capacity additions, the ability to enforce patents, to achieve expected increased sales volume and continued profitability and to react to unanticipated events . We refer you to documents that the company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which includes Form 10-K and Form 10-Qs containing additional important information.

The SonoFlux Servo WS incorporates Sono-Tek’s non-clogging ultrasonic spray nozzle with our high Impact controlled velocity air shaping technology for excellent through hole penetration without overspray. In addition, the SonoFlux Servo WS allows selective fluxing of pallets or full area coverage, with user-friendly programming and recipe storage controlled via a compact notebook using Windows®-based software. This versatile system is easily integrated with all major wave solder machines. The flexibility of selective area fluxing or full board width coverage combined with the ability to spray aggressive high solids fluxes without clogging makes the SonoFlux Servo WS an important tool for PCB manufacturers worldwide. For more information, go to www.SprayFluxing.com.

To see a video of the SonoFlux Servo WS in action, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4FaT6aits0&list=UUsjBhCR_QQaYdmq2OuHkKAQ&index=34&feature=plcp

The following is a brief excerpt from the article:

“By using a technology that is self cleaning, the atomizers are able to run processes without the risk of clogging. The core detriment of processing with nozzles that will clog is not when they fail, but in the event of slowly clogging, the spray characteristics are changing. Ultrasonic atomizers do not clog and therefore do not vary.

The net effect is that a properly run ultrasonic coating process maximizes stability and repeatability, thus maximizing efficient exposure of platinum.”

The full article can be found here: http://asmedl.org/dbt/dbt.jsp?KEY=JFCSAU&Volume=CURVOL&Issue=CURISS

For more information regarding Sono-Tek’s spray systems for fuel cell manufacturing, go to http://www.sono-tek.com/fuel-cell-coating-overview/ or email info@sono-tek.com.