Adept Technology Previews Fiber Optic Assembly Platform At Photonics West; Pre-Engineered Platform Designed to Reduce Time to Implement Fiber Optic Assembly Processes.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 22, 2001

Adept Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADTK), a manufacturer of flexible automation for the telecommunications, fiber optic and semiconductor industries, today announced the first public showing of a new standard fiber assembly platform at the Photonics West trade show (Adept booth No. 1528) in San Jose, Calif., which runs January 23rd through the 25th.

The product is a pre-engineered configurable platform designed to reduce the time and costs required to engineer and implement photonic automation systems. The prototype includes an Adept SmartModules 4 axis materials handling robot, Adept NanoLine L3 micro positioning stage, AdeptVision AVI for parts location and machine guidance, and a configurable deck for mounting additional process automation. All control and software modules are integrated within the AdeptWindows Controller and patented AIM application software, and the single point user interface is provided from an industrial PC. The platform deck is configured with mechanical, network, air, vacuum and electrical connections to support multiple NanoLine stages and process modules, each to be served by the material handling robot.

"The Adept fiber optic assembly platform allows systems integrators and photonics manufacturers to focus their resources on their products and process development," noted Joe Campbell, vice president of marketing for Adept Technology. "We've pre-engineered the mechanical, controls and software architectures, which means reduced costs and risk, and faster time-to-volume."

The Adept fiber optic assembly platform will be available in a range of sizes, and can be configured with a variety of Adept precision robots, Adept NanoLine precision stages, and associated peripherals. Initial shipments are expected to begin in the spring of 2001, with volume shipments expected to commence summer 2001.

Adept Technology designs, manufactures and markets factory automation components and systems for the fiber optic, telecommunications, semiconductor, automotive, food and durable goods industries throughout the world. Adept's robots, controllers, and software products are used for small parts assembly, material handling and ultra precision process applications. Our intelligent automation product lines include industrial robots, configurable linear modules, flexible feeders, semiconductor process components, nanopositioners, machine controllers for robot mechanisms and other flexible automation equipment, machine vision, systems and software, application software, and simulation software. Founded in 1983, Adept is America's largest manufacturer of industrial robots. More information is available at www.adept.com.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results could vary for a number of reasons, including but not limited to, the potential delays associated with the development and introduction of new products or software releases; the potential fluctuations in the company's quarterly and annual results of operations; the company's dependence on the continued growth of the intelligent automation market; the risks associated with sole or single sources of supply and lengthy procurement lead times; our product's long sales cycles and implementation periods, the company's need to adequately invest in research and development; the company's significant fixed costs that cannot be easily reduced in the event of a decrease in demand; the potential that our new or existing products may contain defects, errors or performance problems, the company's highly competitive industry; and rapid technological change within the company's industry.

For a discussion of additional risk factors relating to Adept's business, see Adept's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000 and Adept's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2000, including the discussion in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained therein.

Note to Editors: The Adept logo is a registered trademark of Adept Technology, Inc. Adept is a trademark of Adept Technology. All other trademarks are owned by their respective companies.