Brooks Automation Wins Major 300mm Production Fab Software Contract at UMC.

Business/Technology Editors

CHELMSFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 6, 2000

Brooks Automation, Inc. (NASDAQ: BRKS), a leader in tool and automation solutions for the global semiconductor industry, today announced that it won a major software contract awarded by UMC for use in its newest 300mm production facility, FAB 12A in Taiwan. The UMC evaluation team selected FABworks300, which is a new solution offering containing Brooks' "best-in-class" software applications, pre-integrated for 300mm manufacturing. Participating with Brooks in the implementation effort are Compaq (NYSE:CPQ) and Synergy, a local Taiwan systems integrator.

"FACTORYworks 3.0 is one of the most competitive MES software products and is probably the only tightly integrated automation solution offered for 300mm wafer fab implementation while DREAMS is the market leader in cell controllers in both foundry and DRAM operations," said Pam Pan, UMC 12A CIM/MES manager. "We believe that the combination of both products will bring the most benefits to our newest 300mm fab (12A). .....In order to build a stronger partner relationship, UMC is committed to re-use the same solution suites (FABworks300) for all our future 300mm wafer fabs in Tainan Science-Park, Taiwan, provided that we can have a successful implementation in UMC 12A."

Jim Pelusi, Senior Vice President, Automation Software Division, said, "The increased level of material automation and processing complexity in 300mm manufacturing requires a CIM solution that acts as an integrated system. The historical piece-meal integration of point applications can no longer be extended to meet these new requirements. UMC, a leader in semiconductor foundry manufacturing, is another distinguished customer who has seen the value of our integrated 300mm CIM solution, FABworks300, that is available TODAY! The capabilities of our "best-in-class" software components, integrated into the FABworks300 solution together with experienced systems integration resources from Brooks and our partners, makes Brooks the natural choice for 300mm fab software automation. The UMC contract represents the ninth 300mm customer for our factory automation software division. We are pleased with the confidence shown in Brooks and its implementation partners for the first of several of UMC's advanced fabs in Tainan Science-Park. Together, we will make a difference."

United Microelectronics Corporation 

UMC is a world-leading semiconductor manufacturing company which provides customers with leading edge IC manufacturing services. In 2000, UMC will operate seven 8" fabs as well as one 6" fab. The total wafer capacity (8" eq) will reach 2.4M, with 50% of all production for 0.25um and below processes.

UMC is the fastest growing company in the foundry industry with a 61% sales growth rate (CAGR) since becoming a dedicated foundry in 1995. UMC is committed to developing the industry's most advanced process technology while providing unmatched service, allowing its customers to build the competitive advantages needed in today's dynamic IC industry. UMC has offices in Taiwan, Japan, Europe, and the United States, with head marketing and sales division strategically located in the heart of Silicon Valley, California. UMC employs over 7,000 people worldwide and operates wafer fabrication plants (fabs) in Taiwan and Japan, with a 1999 production total of 1.8 million 8-inch equivalent wafers. UMC's web site is www.umc.com

Brooks Automation Inc.

Brooks Automation, Inc. is a leading supplier of integrated automation solutions for the global semiconductor, data storage and flat panel display manufacturing industries. As an established market leader in hardware and software automation, Brooks continues to pioneer "best-in-class" technologies that outperform their competitors--from vacuum and atmospheric robots, cluster tool platforms and modules, ultra-clean mini-environments for isolating processing equipment and wafers--to factory and tool automation software and integration services. Both OEM and fab customers leverage Brooks Automation's products and services to optimize total fab performance in complex and changing manufacturing environments. The Company has ISO 9001 certification, is headquartered in Chelmsford, MA and has direct operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia. Brooks' web site is www.brooks.com.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The foregoing discussion contains forward-looking statements relating to the expected benefits of the Brooks software automation sales to UMC. These statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, risks relating to the manner in which the customer uses the products and integrates the products with other components, the Company's dependence on the cyclical semiconductor industry, the ability of the Company to continue to successfully develop and market new products and product enhancements on a timely basis, the Company's dependence on relatively few customers for a significant portion of its revenues, the Company's reliance on sales to OEM customers and the lengthy sales cycles of those customers, the highly competitive nature and rapid technological change that characterize the industries in which the Company competes, and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result, there can be no assurance that the Company's future results will not be materially different from those projected. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only of the Company's expectations as of the date of this press release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect any change in the Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.