Asyst Unveils Industry's First Turnkey, Tool Automation Solution.FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 23, 1999-- Open architecture Asyst Plus(TM) Platform integrates state-of-the-art isolation and automation technologies to deliver customized tool front-end solutions designed to bridge the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) The rebranding of equipment and selling it. The term initially referred to the company that made the products (the "original" manufacturer), but eventually became widely used to refer to the organization that buys the products and and chipmaker chip·mak·er n. A manufacturer of electronic and integrated circuit chips. gap Asyst Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq/NMS:ASYT), a leading supplier of advanced manufacturing solutions for the semiconductor industry, today introduced its new Plus(TM) Platform the industry's first turnkey See turnkey system. , tool automation solution for today's most advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Featuring an open architecture that integrates the automation, isolation and information technology semiconductor device manufacturers demand, Asyst's Plus Platform responds to the emerging industry need for automated au·to·mate v. au·to·mat·ed, au·to·mat·ing, au·to·mates v.tr. 1. To convert to automatic operation: automate a factory. 2. tool front-end solutions that enable seamless integration An addition of a new application, routine or device that works smoothly with the existing system. It implies that the new feature or program can be installed and used without problems. Contrast with "transparent," which implies that there is no discernible change after installation. between original equipment manufacturers' (OEMs) production tools and advanced fab automation systems. 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. Anthony Bonora, Asyst's senior vice president and chief technology officer, escalating device complexity and cost are driving the demand for increased levels of automation and isolation in today's fabs. This, in turn, drives the need for complete front-end systems that can be built onto the semiconductor process tool to manage the transactions in moving wafers wafers compressed roughage in flat plates useful for feeding to animals in transit. between the process tool and the factory floor. Asyst stands alone in offering comprehensive product suites in all five of the core-technology areas needed to create complete tool automation solutions. These include automation software, auto identification (ID), loadports, environmental control and advanced robotics robotics, science and technology of general purpose, programmable machine systems. Contrary to the popular fiction image of robots as ambulatory machines of human appearance capable of performing almost any task, most robotic systems are anchored to fixed positions . In addition, the company has unparalleled OEM expertise with more than 250 OEM design wins, spanning 800 different tools and configurations over the past decade. As a result, Asyst is uniquely positioned to understand both OEM and chipmakers' requirements in addressing this evolving, high-growth market. Dr. Mihir Parikh, Asyst's chairman and chief executive officer, noted that the Plus Platform is the first product capability to emerge from the company's automation group, formed last November to target the tool front-end market. "This technology reflects our strategy to blend the expertise gleaned from extensive work with OEMs and chipmakers, with our deep understanding of how to manage valued customer assets in production and to deliver an integrated system that solves the unique needs of each customer including the need to boost manufacturing yields and productivity." Custom Solutions With A Universal Interface Historically, tool front-ends have been developed through either fab retrofits, using diverse and often incompatible stand-alone products, or through custom OEM designs with proprietary interface technologies. As a result, these interfaces differ tool to tool and fab to fab with huge variances in both functionality and performance. In contrast, Asyst's new Plus Platform product family ensures that the automation, robotics, information and isolation technologies are seamlessly integrated into a single, open-architecture platform that can meet the unique requirements of all process and metrology metrology Science of measurement. Measuring a quantity means establishing its ratio to another fixed quantity of the same kind, known as the unit of that kind of quantity. systems in the fab. This is achieved through a series of integrated building blocks that can be custom configured con·fig·ure tr.v. con·fig·ured, con·fig·ur·ing, con·fig·ures To design, arrange, set up, or shape with a view to specific applications or uses: to meet the unique needs of each OEM and fab customer. In addition to offering a new level of connectivity between the process tool and factory floor, the Plus Platform represents a major step forward in addressing chipmakers' vision of a standard front-end interface across the factory floor. Equally important are the benefits to the equipment manufacturers that will leverage this new platform to speed time to market for next-generation systems and technologies. By outsourcing (1) Contracting with outside consultants, software houses or service bureaus to perform systems analysis, programming and datacenter operations. Contrast with insourcing. See netsourcing, ASP, SSP and facilities management. this critical subsystem A unit or device that is part of a larger system. For example, a disk subsystem is a part of a computer system. A bus is a part of the computer. A subsystem usually refers to hardware, but it may be used to describe software. , OEMs can focus on their core competencies A core competency is something that a firm can do well and that meets the following three conditions specified by Hamel and Prahalad (1990):
n. pl. com·mon·al·i·ties 1. a. The possession, along with another or others, of a certain attribute or set of attributes: a political movement's commonality of purpose. to the fab interface. OEMs also benefit from the Plus Platform's open-architecture design methodology, which ensures the design flexibility OEMs need to provide their global integrated circuit integrated circuit (IC), electronic circuit built on a semiconductor substrate, usually one of single-crystal silicon. The circuit, often called a chip, is packaged in a hermetically sealed case or a nonhermetic plastic capsule, with leads extending from it for (IC) manufacturing customers with customized, mission-specific solutions. THE PLUS PLATFORM ADVANTAGE The Plus Platform incorporates multiple loadport (150 mm through 300 mm available), robotic and pre-aligner, auto ID, environmental control and software systems. The complete system fully integrates these critical functions into a turnkey material handling and factory automation interface for the full range of process and metrology tools. The system is designed to communicate with a supervisory controller and ultimately with the fab's in-house MES (Manufacturing Execution Software) Software that provides real time access to plant activities that include equipment, labor, orders and inventory. An MES integrates the data with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems so that management has complete control of system. In tailoring its Plus Platform to meet individual requirements, Asyst works in close partnership with both the OEM and fab customer to develop an optimized fab/process interface that complies with all SEMI and I300I standards and guidelines guidelines, n.pl a set of standards, criteria, or specifications to be used or followed in the performance of certain tasks. . To dramatically reduce design and prototype delivery time, Asyst leverages an extensive Pro-Engineer(TM) design library of building blocks that are utilized to configure See configuration. (software) configure - A program by Richard Stallman to discover properties of the current platform and to set up make to compile and install gcc. Cygnus configure was a similar system developed by K. these highly custom solutions to meet the specific needs of each fab and equipment supplier. The Plus Platform is available immediately. Asyst reports that customer response to the new system has been extremely strong, as evidenced by the multiple orders already received and the escalating demo activity. Parikh added that in addition to opening up a new and potentially sizeable market for Asyst, the new Plus Platform is representative of Asyst's value management-based initiatives designed to expand the company's role as a complete solutions provider. "Our entire portfolio is aimed at securing the integrity of chipmakers' wafers throughout the manufacturing cycle. This includes creating the proper process environment to ensure process integrity, designing material management to maintain lot integrity, automating wafer (1) A small, thin continuous-loop magnetic tape cartridge that has been used from time to time for data storage and specialized applications. (2) The base unit of chip making. It is a slice taken from a salami-like silicon crystal ingot up to 12" (300mm) in diameter. handling to eliminate human error and connecting all protocols and systems to establish communications integrity," concluded Parikh. Except for statements of historical fact, the statements in this press release are forward-looking. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These factors include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, semiconductor industry cycles, risks associated with the acceptance of new products and product capabilities and other factors more fully detailed in the Company's most recent Forms 10-K and 10-Q and annual report to shareholders. About Asyst: Asyst Technologies, Inc. is the leading provider of advanced technologies designed to protect and enhance customers' valued assets throughout all phases of the manufacturing process. The company's comprehensive solutions set includes 200 and 300 mm product families that deliver state-of-the-art isolation, material management, robotics and software needed to ensure seamless factory automation in the most advanced fabs worldwide. Leveraging Asyst's value assurance technologies, OEMs are able to speed time to market and reduce development costs, while chipmakers are able to achieve greater fab profitability and productivity. Asyst's homepage is located on the World Wide Web at http://www.asyst.com Note to Editors: Plus Platform is a registered trademark of Asyst Technologies, Inc. and Pro-Engineer is a registered trademark of Parametric Technology. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners. Asyst Technologies, Inc. cannot guarantee the accuracy of the contents of this document and disclaims liability for any errors, omissions or future changes. Editors Note: A copy of the Asyst PLUS Platform white paper is now available. If you are interested in receiving a copy, please contact Stephanie Huang at shuang@mcapr.com or at 650-968-8900 ext. 129. |
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