Amtech Systems Inc. Cracks Japanese Market With IBAL Robot System.Business Editors TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 18, 2000 Amtech Systems Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :ASYS) Tuesday announced it has secured its first IBAL IBAL Irish Business Against Litter order from a well-known semiconductor fabricator fab·ri·cate tr.v. fab·ri·cat·ed, fab·ri·cat·ing, fab·ri·cates 1. To make; create. 2. To construct by combining or assembling diverse, typically standardized parts: located in Japan. Because Japan represents approximately one-fourth of the worldwide market for semiconductor production equipment, penetrating this market provides an important opportunity for increasing sales of IBAL Automation products. The company's IBAL Automation won the order despite the fact that the competition was a large and well-respected Japanese-based equipment manufacturer. The company reported a revival in IBAL Automation system sales System sales is a business term used in the franchising industry. Franchisors provide supplies, marketing and administration services to franchisees in return for a part of the franchisees' revenues. Some franchisors also operate some outlets directly. in other Asian markets, including Singapore and South Korea. Typically, sales into the Asian market have accounted for up to 51 percent of the company's consolidated sales. However, in fiscal 1999, sales into such Far East countries were at their lowest level of the decade. The Korean sale was a repeat order for IBAL Automation and Atmoscan processing systems from one of the two largest manufacturers of DRAM (dynamic random access memory Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) is a type of random access memory that stores each bit of data in a separate capacitor within an integrated circuit. Since real capacitors leak charge, the information eventually fades unless the capacitor charge is refreshed periodically. ) chips in the world. The company also reported getting its first repeat IBAL Automation sale in Singapore. In total, these orders amount to approximately $1 million. The company believes that these orders confirm industry reports that the Asian market, typically a very important market for the company, is experiencing significant improvement. J.S. Whang, the company's president and chief executive officer, stated, "I am proud that we were again selected to provide automation solutions to two world-class semiconductor manufacturers, especially considering the caliber and nature of the competition for this business. We believe this proves that we have the right product at the right time. "These events are further confirmation of Amtech's growth strategy. With the upturn in our Asian markets and our first IBAL sales into Japan, I am very hopeful Amtech Systems Inc. will achieve increased sales growth in fiscal 2000." The company's patented IBAL Automation solutions have several competitive advantages compared to its competition. It has a near-zero footprint, making it ideal for retrofitting automation into existing facilities. 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, as proven by a world class Texas semiconductor manufacturer. Also, IBAL loads individual boats of wafers, while some competing systems require intermediate carriers to hold the boats, which are not as desirable when processing 200mm wafers. The company's cassette-to-cassette wafer transfer capability further automates the loading and unloading of horizontal diffusion furnaces and will reduce the need for human intervention, thereby improving operator safety. Amtech Systems Inc. manufactures capital equipment and related consumables used in fabricating semiconductor devices and in the polishing and lapping steps of manufacturing and reclaiming silicon wafers used in the fabrication fabrication (fab´rikā´sh  n),n the construction or making of a restoration. of such devices, as well as of other wafer-thin materials. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995 provides a "safe harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. " for forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. . 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. 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 Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q Form 10-Q See 10-Q. . |
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