Amtech Systems Inc. Revives Its Asian Markets.Business Editors TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 25, 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) announced it continues to experience a revival in its Asian markets. Its IBAL IBAL Irish Business Against Litter Automation products, in particular, are benefiting from the resurgence in those markets. 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 recently visited the company's worldwide headquarters in Tempe and completed the source inspection of a new IBAL Automation system order. That order shipped in April and two other previously announced Asian orders shipped in the company's second fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2000. The company also reported that it had received an IBAL Automation system order from Fairchild Semiconductor Korea. Fairchild Semiconductor recently acquired semiconductor fabrication fabrication (fab´rikā´sh  n),n the construction or making of a restoration. facilities from Samsung. Those facilities use horizontal furnaces which are compatible with Amtech's automation and furnace technologies. Fairchild Korea is a new customer of Amtech's with significant future potential. Sales into Singapore are also increasing. The company received another repeat 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 Singapore. The improvement in Amtech's Asian market is very significant, as in most years that region represented 25-50% of consolidated sales. However, in fiscal 1999, sales into such Far East countries were 5% of consolidated sales, their lowest level of the decade. As a result, the Asian markets have the potential of contributing millions of dollars to the company's increasing sales. 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, "Increasing sales on a world-wide basis and the resurgence of the very important Asian markets positions the company for strong earnings in fiscal 2000 and the years to come. These orders are further confirmation that we have the right product at the right time." 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 and the product of choice by world class Texas semiconductor manufacturers. 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 Unloading Selling securities or commodities whose prices are dropping to minimize loss. 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 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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