[ZOLTEK logo]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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ZOLTEK ANNOUNCES NEW WIND ENERGY
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DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE
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ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI -- SEPTEMBER 9, 2009 -- Zoltek Companies, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ZOLT) today announced that it has entered into a technology and
marketing agreement with Global Blade Technology (GBT), of Utrecht, the
Netherlands. Zoltek and GBT are joining forces to accelerate the design and
manufacture of advanced wind turbine blades utilizing Zoltek carbon fibers.
GBT offers design, engineering, prototype development, testing and
manufacturing assistance for new and existing wind turbine and independent
turbine blade manufacturers. We expect the combination of GBT's expertise as
the first fully integrated rotor blade designer, and Zoltek's ability to offer
reliable low-cost carbon fiber supplies in high volumes, will accelerate
adoption of carbon fibers as wind turbine blade lengths continue to increase.
"We are pleased to announce this alliance with GBT, which we believe
can have strategic value to Zoltek by playing a key role in facilitating and
speeding up the whole process of design and development at the leading edge of
the wind turbine business," said Zsolt Rumy, Zoltek's Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer. "GBT's founders are highly regarded in the industry for
their expertise in the design and production of advanced wind turbine blades.
GBT will be serving original equipment manufacturers in a variety of ways -
from design and engineering through various stages of manufacture, including
supply of molds and production of prototype blades. We are gratified that GBT
has recognized Zoltek's commercial carbon fibers as the key enabling material
in designing and building the most efficient and powerful wind turbines. We
look forward to working cooperatively with them to develop customer
relationships in this growing global market that will benefit both of our
organizations."
Under the agreement, GBT has agreed to actively promote Zoltek carbon
fibers in the development of blade designs when the performance parameters
require the superior properties of carbon fibers. Zoltek has agreed to offer
its low-cost assured supply of high-performance carbon fibers to GBT's clients
who seek design assistance or other technical support in the development and
production of the super-long blades used in the most advanced and powerful
wind turbines. "We recognized Zoltek's leadership and proven success in the
application of carbon fibers in the wind energy market," said Jan Willem van
der Werff, GBT's President. He added, "GBT believes Zoltek has the best value
proposition for users of carbon fibers in wind turbine blades. We are pleased
to establish this relationship with Zoltek and expect it will improve our
abilities to support our customers' needs."
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
ZSOLT RUMY, CHAIRMAN AND CEO
3101 MCKELVEY ROAD
ST. LOUIS, MO 63044
(314) 291-5110
[ZOLTEK logo]
Zoltek Announces New Wind Energy Development Alliance
Page 2
September 9, 2009
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This press release contains certain statements that constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended. The words "expect," "believe," "goal," "plan,"
"intend," "estimate," and similar expressions and variations thereof are
intended to specifically identify forward-looking statements. Those statements
include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of us,
our directors and officers with respect to, among other things: (1) our
financial prospects; (2) our growth strategy and operating strategy, including
our focus on facilitating acceleration of the introduction and development of
mass market applications for carbon fibers; (3) our current and expected
future revenue; and (4) our ability to complete financing arrangements that
are adequate to fund current operations and our long-term strategy.
This press release also contains statements that are based on the current
expectations of our company. You are cautioned that any such forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and
uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those
projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors.
The factors that might cause such differences include, among others, our
ability to: (1) successfully implement and coordinate the new alliance with
GBT; (2) successfully adapt to recessionary conditions in the global economy;
(3) penetrate existing, identified and emerging markets, including entering
into new supply agreements with large volume customers; (4) continue to
improve efficiency at our manufacturing facilities on a timely and
cost-effective basis to meet current order levels of carbon fibers; (5)
successfully add new planned capacity for the production of carbon fiber and
precursor raw materials and meet our obligations under long-term supply
agreements; (6) maintain profitable operations; (7) increase our borrowing at
acceptable costs; (8) manage changes in customers' forecasted requirements for
our products; (9) continue investing in application and market development in
a range of industries; (10) manufacture low-cost carbon fibers and profitably
market them despite increases in raw material and energy costs; (11)
successfully operate our Mexican facility to produce acrylic fiber precursor
and add carbon fiber production lines; (12) resolve the pending non-public,
fact-finding investigation being conducted by the Securities and Exchange
Commission; (13) successfully continue operations at our Hungarian facility if
natural gas supply disruptions occur; (14) successfully prosecute patent
litigation; and (15) manage the risks identified under "Risk Factors" in our
filings with the SEC. Because forward-looking statements are inherently
subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or
quantified, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions
of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in the
forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results
could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking
statements.