PennWell Enters Joint Venture in China's Solar Market

TULSA, Okla., June 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PennWell Corporation, a global business-to-business media and information company, has entered into a joint venture with Shenzhen Dresche Exhibition & Planning Co., Ltd, organizer of the annual Asia SOLAREXPO convention and exhibition in Shenzhen City, China.  Founded in 2005, Asia SOLAREXPO is the oldest solar exhibition in China and is one of the only two established industrial-scale solar events in the country.

Under the terms of the joint venture PennWell will be the international organizer of Asia SOLAREXPO and has the opportunity to achieve ownership of this fast-growing exhibition occupying over 100,000 net square meters.  For the next event taking place December 3-5, 2011 in Shenzhen, PennWell will manage marketing and sales throughout all of Asia except China as well as North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.  

The December 2011 event will be the 7th Asia SOLAREXPO and will cover all sectors of the photovoltaics and solar industry, featuring products and equipment including solar-related components, materials, applications, systems and advanced technologies.  In addition to bringing international exhibitors to China, PennWell will also use its editorial and content expertise to develop an international conference for the event that will create an information exchange and networking among technology experts and speakers from around the world.

"This joint venture offers PennWell a unique opportunity to expand its presence in China and leverage our worldwide reach in renewable energy by bringing our international customers to the largest and fastest growing solar market in the world," stated PennWell President and CEO Robert F. Biolchini.  "Our new partner in Shenzhen is looking to PennWell's highly-respected expertise in developing conferences and exhibitions around the world to accelerate the growth of Asia SOLAREXPO and enhance its reputation as a global event."  

The December 2011 Asia SOLAREXPO will be held in the heart of Shenzhen City at the Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center.  Situated immediately north of Hong Kong, Shenzhen has a population of over 14 million and is the fastest growing city in China.  The Chinese Government also named Shenzhen as the pilot city for renewable energy, and the people of Shenzhen have made renewable energy their focus, having establishing over 40 solar demonstration projects within the last five years.

PennWell has an expansive portfolio of publications, websites, and conferences and exhibitions serving the photovoltaics/solar industry and other renewable markets, including the world's leading renewable energy portal, www.RenewableEnergyWorld.com.  PennWell also reaches over 250,000 renewable professionals through its Renewable Energy World North America Magazine, Renewable Energy World International Magazine, Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo North America, Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo Europe, Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo Asia, Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo India, Photovoltaics World Magazine, and Photovoltaics World Conference & Expo.  PennWell also recently announced the launch of Solar POWER-GEN, which will be held February 14-16, 2012 in Long Beach, California.

About PennWell

Founded in 1910, PennWell Corporation is a privately held and highly diversified business-to-business media and information company that provides quality content and integrated marketing solutions for the following industries in addition to solar/photovoltaics:  Oil and gas, electric power generation and delivery, hydropower, renewable energy, water and wastewater treatment, waste management, electronics, semiconductor manufacturing, optoelectronics, fiberoptics, aerospace and avionics, LEDS and lighting, fire and dental.  PennWell publishes over 130 print and online magazines and newsletters, conducts 60 conferences and exhibitions on six continents, and has an extensive offering of books, maps, websites, research and database services.  In addition to PennWell's headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and other U.S. offices in major locations, the Company has offices in London and Moscow.

To learn more about this event, please visit www.solarexpo.com.cn.  

For additional information on PennWell, please visit www.pennwell.com.

For more information about this Press Release, contact:

Wendy Lissau – Marketing Director
918-832-9391
[email protected]

SOURCE PennWell Publishing Company