The name Ersol has disappeared from the world of solar energy. The company's moniker, around since its founding in 2001, has now officially become Bosch Solar Modules, after being bought by engineering giant Robert Bosch in August 2008.

At the same time, three former Ersol subsidiaries have also been renamed. Ingot and wafer maker aSi Industries has become Bosch Solar Wafers; Ersol Crystalline Modules has become Bosch Solar Modules; and Ersol Thin Film has become Bosch Solar Thin Film.

Ersol’s plants will immediately see their logos replaced, all of its product labels will be redesigned, and as of 1 September it has a new website, connected to Bosch’s larger online presence.

“From now on the company will directly benefit from the high name recognition, global presence, decades-long tradition, and strong attributes of the Bosch brand,” says Holger von Hebel, chief executive of the newly named Bosch Solar Energy.

The re-branding comes as Robert Bosch, the world’s largest maker of automotive parts, with nearly 300,000 employees worldwide, continues its quest to become a major player within Germany’s solar-energy industry. Bosch first announced its intention to acquire a controlling stake in Ersol in June 2008, and by August 2008 it had accumulated 85.48% of the outstanding shares.

Thus far 2009 has been a brutal year for Ersol, which recorded an operating loss of €10.6m ($15.2m) in the second quarter. Revenues fell 43.9% to €72.9m. The company has lowered its revenue guidance for the year to less than €300m, and predicts it will turn in a full-year loss.

In early August 2009, Ersol learned it would receive EU subsidies to cover 10% of the cost of building a new €530m factory in Arnstadt that will create more than 1,100 jobs. Bosch says that despite Ersol’s recent poor performance, which it blames on the economy, it will press ahead with the full scope of plans for the new facility. However, construction will be slow-tracked “in line with the short-term demand situation”.

In August 2009 Bosch informed investors that it had simultaneously bought a 40% stake in Aleo Solar, which makes both thin-film and silicon photovoltaic (PV) modules, and 60% of CIGS player Johanna Solar, both based in Germany.