Asyst Technologies Acquires Radiance Systems; Newly formed subsidiary to expand software resources.FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 1996--Asyst Technologies, 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 :ASYT), today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Santa Clara Santa Clara, city, Cuba Santa Clara (sän`tä klä`rä), city (1994 est. pop. 217,000), capital of Villa Clara prov., central Cuba. , Calif.-based Radiance Systems, Inc., a private corporation that specializes in developing and integrating software solutions for the semiconductor, electronics and automatic test equipment (ATE) industries. Asyst expects the transaction to close within approximately 30 days, following approval by the California Department of Corporations. Under terms of the stock-for-stock agreement, Asyst will acquire all of Radiance's assets and technologies -- systems integration services and real-time control Real-time control is a popular term for a certain class of digital controllers. For effective digital control, it is critical that sample time be constant. Real-time control achieves nearly constant sample time. See also
n See Anxiety Sensitivity Index. ). The agreement also encompasses over 50 off-the-shelf equipment interface drivers that Radiance developed utilizing the industry standard Virtual Factory Equipment Interface (VFEI) protocol. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Asyst, the unparalleled number of VFEI drivers was an important factor in its decision to acquire Radiance. While connectivity and automation software for semiconductor manufacturing is a relatively new market and little published data is available, Asyst's preliminary research indicates that nearly 10 percent of the cost of a fab is allocated for fab automation -- both equipment and software. As companies look to ramp new, billion-dollar fabs as well as meet aggressive production needs in existing fabs, automation and connectivity software is expected to become an increasingly critical component of semiconductor manufacturing strategies. According to Asyst Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mihir Parikh, the Radiance acquisition is integral to Asyst's corporate strategy to build on its leadership in providing factory automation solutions to the semiconductor and flat panel display A thin display screen for computer and TV usage. The first flat panels appeared on laptop computers in the mid-1980s, and the LCD technology became the standard. Stand-alone LCD screens became available for desktop computers in the mid-1990s and exceeded sales of CRTs for the first time (FPD (1) (Flat Panel Display) See LCD, plasma display, EL display, FED and flat panel display. (2) (Field Programmable Device) An umbrella term for all chips that can be programmed by the customer including SPLDs, CPLDs and FPGAs. See PLD. ) industries. "Open systems-based software products and systems integration are essential to providing complete solutions for manufacturers that utilize minienvironments, SMIF SMIF Standard Mechanical Interface SMIF Stream-based Model Interchange Format SMIF Shared Materials Instrumentation Facility (Duke University) SMIF Stanford Management Internship Fund SMIF SMAD4-Interacting Transcription Factor technology, material control and identification systems from a variety of suppliers," asserted Parikh. "With this acquisition, we are expanding our market reach, opportunities for revenue growth and technological resources." ASI, chartered with delivering connectivity and automation solutions to this growing market, was formed earlier this year by uniting new staff with existing Asyst Technologies software resources. Utilizing a combination of open systems software and integration services, ASI is focusing on providing standards-based factory automation solutions, customer-focused software products and formal systems integration processes. Asyst reports that ASI will retain all Radiance employees, bringing its total staff to over 60. This figure is expected to increase significantly in the next 12 to 24 months as the subsidiary's operations ramp up Ramp Up To increase a company's operations in anticipation of increased demand. Notes: A company might 'ramp up' operations if they just signed a contract creating substantially more demand for their product. See also: Demand, Economies of Scale . To speed this process, Asyst recently opened a new facility dedicated to ASI and its product development. Located in San Jose San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. , Calif., the 19,900-square-foot building houses product development, customer support, training, sales and marketing. According to William Leckonby, president of ASI, the move embodies Asyst's commitment to providing customer focused solutions. "Together, the Radiance acquisition and our new facility create the environment we need to effectively address our customers' individual software and integration needs," noted Leckonby. "It also provides resources that can support rapid growth as we accelerate our operations." ASI is located at 2125 Zanker Road, San Jose, Calif., 95131. Telephone: 408/452-2500; fax 408/452-2550. About Asyst: Asyst Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of material control and automation systems that help semiconductor manufacturers improve their integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing productivity. The company's Asyst-SMIF(TM) System combines state-of-the-art minienvironments with advanced robotics to create ultraclean processing environments that are both comprehensive and flexible. The SMART-Traveler(TM) System (STS (Synchronous Transport Signal) The electrical equivalent of the SONET optical signal. In SDH, the European counterpart of SONET, STS is known as STM (Synchronous Transport Module). ) works in tandem with SMIF to eliminate misprocessing. Both Asyst-SMIF and its companion STS products are integral to seamless factory automation of the future. Asyst's subsidiary, Asyst Automation, Inc., focuses on material handling control software and inter-bay/intra-bay automation systems. The company's newest subsidiary, Asyst Software, Inc., is dedicated to the development of software products for equipment communications and automated material handling, identification and tracking. Founded in 1984, Asyst Technologies, Inc. is headquartered in Fremont, Calif., with facilities in Europe and the Far East. Asyst Automation, Inc. is located outside Boston, Mass., with Asyst Software located in San Jose, Calif. The company's common stock trades on the NASDAQ Stock Market Nasdaq stock market The first electronic stock market listing over 5000 companies. The Nasdaq stock market comprises two separate markets, namely the Nasdaq National Market, which trades large, active securities and the Nasdaq Smallcap Market that trades emerging growth companies. under the symbol ASYT. CONTACT: Asyst Technologies, Inc. Lisa Garcia, 510/661-5000 (Press Contact) Doug McCutcheon, 510/661-5000 (Investor Contact) or MCA MCA in full Music Corporation of America Entertainment conglomerate. It was founded in Chicago in 1924 by Jules Stein as a talent agency. In the 1960s it bought Decca Records and Universal Pictures, and today it produces films, music, and television shows. , Inc. Vincent Mayeda, 415/968-8900 (Agency Contact) |
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