Amtech Systems Inc. Announces Record Orders for IBAL Automated Diffusion Furnaces.

Business Editors

TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 1, 2000

Amtech Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: ASYS) Thursday announced that it has secured a record of approximately $3 million in repeat orders from a well respected U.S. based semiconductor manufacturer, which is rapidly expanding capacity.

The customer's purchase orders are for new Amtech/Tempress 200-mm silicon wafer processing horizontal diffusion furnaces and the company's most advanced IBAL Automation System. These systems are expected to ship ratably over three quarters beginning with the quarter ending Sept. 30, 2000.

J.S. Whang, the company's president and chief executive officer, stated, "I am pleased to see the company reach this historic milestone of securing approximately $3 million in record breaking orders, as it demonstrates that our customers recognize the value of our products and service. This is a real credit to our employees who strive to deliver complete customer satisfaction.

"I believe it is this attention to customer satisfaction that has made it possible to sell our Tempress furnaces, which are manufactured in The Netherlands, around the globe and to sell our IBAL Automation systems in quantities to large-scale semiconductor production facilities.

"Such large, repeat orders are a confirmation to me that we have the right products at the right time and that we are providing the high-level of support expected by the semiconductor manufacturers.

"With this combination of product and service, we expect to see growth from the industry's rapid expansion of semiconductor fabrication capacity and from new applications for our tools that are just beginning to evolve. Therefore, I am looking forward to the next record breaking order."

The company's products have several competitive advantages compared to its competition. The zero-footprint IBAL Automation products fit onto new and existing load-stations and do not require the added costly clean-room floor space needed by most competing products.

The system is also modular, making it easier to configure to customers' requirements and easier for the customer to maintain. The company believes IBAL is more cost effective and more reliable than its competition and the product of choice by a growing number of world-class semiconductor manufacturers.

Furthermore, most customers appreciate the benefit of being able to deal with a single vendor for their horizontal furnace, load-station and automation requirements.

Amtech Systems Inc. manufactures capital equipment, including silicon wafer handling automation, semiconductor processing equipment and related consumables used in fabricating semiconductor devices.

Semiconductors, or semiconductor chips, are fabricated on silicon wafer substrates, sliced from ingots, and are part of the circuitry, or electronic components, of many products, including computers, telecommunications devices, automotive products, consumer goods and industrial automation and control systems.

The company's semiconductor handling and processing products currently address the polishing of newly sliced silicon wafers and reclaimed test wafers and the oxidation and deposition steps used in the fabrication of semiconductors.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this press release (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by Amtech Systems Inc.) contains statements that are forward-looking.

Such forward-looking information involves a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed or anticipated by management. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among other factors, industry specific and general business conditions, competitive market conditions and the success of Amtech's growth and sales strategies.

The company does not undertake any obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements for changing circumstances. For more information, review the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, Amtech Systems, Inc.'s annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.