Aetrium Announces Plan to Acquire Advantek Handler Division.

ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 8, 1997--Aetrium Incorporated (Nasdaq: ATRM) today announced that it has agreed to acquire substantially all of the assets of the Handler Division of Advantek Inc., subject to the completion of a due diligence review. Aetrium expects to close on the transaction during the fourth quarter. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Advantek's handler products are sold to semiconductor manufacturers. AdvantekUs handlers utilize "pick and place" handling technology and offer a full-range of temperature conditioning options. The Handler Division, based in Arden Hills, Minnesota, recorded revenue of approximately $4 million for the most recent twelve months. The Handler Division has approximately 50 employees, all of whom are expected to become Aetrium employees at the time of the closing.

"The Advantek Handler Division has established itself as an innovative and reliable manufacturer of test handlers used by a variety of semiconductor manufacturers," says Joseph C. Levesque, president and chief executive officer of Aetrium. "We are very pleased to be able to add the Advantek test handler products to our already broad product offerings. This transaction represents a continuation of our strategy to consolidate and strengthen our segment of the semiconductor manufacturing process."

According to Levesque, the Advantek test handler products are technically complementary to Aetrium's existing test handler models and represent little, if any, competitive overlap.

"We have many common customers and we are confident that we can maximize revenue by leveraging our worldwide distribution and service channels," Levesque continues. "We intend to continue the product development currently underway at the Arden Hills facility. We are also very pleased to be able to add the considerable technical skills and industry experience of the Handler Division's accomplished staff."

Advantek, based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, is a privately held manufacturer of electronic component packaging equipment and supplies. This planned transaction consists strictly of the acquisition of Advantek's Handler Division, and Aetrium and Advantek will continue to operate as separate and distinct entities, with no additional business relationships planned or anticipated.

The Advantek transaction, when completed, will be Aetrium's second acquisition during 1997. In April Aetrium acquired Forward Systems Automation Inc. of Grand Prairie, Texas.

Certain matters in this news release are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, slowing growth in the demand for semiconductor devices, unanticipated costs associated with the integration of acquired companies, reduced rates of capital expenditures by semiconductor manufacturers, setbacks in product development programs, slower than anticipated customer acceptance of new products, and other risk factors set forth in the company's SEC filings, including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996.

Aetrium is a leading supplier of proprietary technologies and equipment that are used by the worldwide microelectronics industry to assemble and test integrated circuits (ICs) and other electronic components. Aetrium has manufacturing facilities in San Diego, California; St. Paul, Minnesota; Lawrence, Massachusetts; and Dallas, Texas. Aetrium's common stock is publicly traded on the National Over-The-Counter market under the Nasdaq symbol ATRM.

CONTACT: Aetrium, St. Paul

Lee Schafer, [phone]