Cerprobe Announces Vertical Probe Card Strategy.Gilbert, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 14, 1998--Cerprobe Corp. (Nasdaq NM:CRPB CRPB Conflict Resolution and Peace Building ) Tuesday announced its strategy for the development of vertical probe cards A probe card is an interface between an electronic test system and a semiconductor wafer. Its purpose is to provide an electrical path between the test system and the circuits on the wafer, thereby permitting the testing and validation of the circuits at the wafer level, usually that the company expects will make possible the testing of ultra-high density integrated circuits Integrated circuits Miniature electronic circuits produced within and upon a single semiconductor crystal, usually silicon. Integrated circuits range in complexity from simple logic circuits and amplifiers, about 1/20 in. (1. ("ICs") and ICs manufactured using controlled collapsible chip connections ("C4" or grid array), as well as the testing of multiple ICs simultaneously. Vertical probe card technology is expected to experience significant growth in market segments such as systems-on-a-chip, logic, and microprocessors. C. Zane Close, president and chief executive officer of Cerprobe, commented, "We have recently added substantial resources to our internal development team to produce new products to address the multi-chip requirements of memory chip manufacturers as well as the grid array requirements for many of the new high-density, high pin count chip designs for systems-on-a-chip, logic, and microprocessors. "We expect these new products to be ready for volume production in sync with our customers' production 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 of their new designs." Cerprobe began its vertical probe card development in 1995 through a multi-year product development contract award by SEMATECH SEMATECH Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology , a consortium of leading U.S. semiconductor manufacturers and the U.S. government formed to promote technological innovation in the U.S. semiconductor industry. The company suspended sus·pend v. sus·pend·ed, sus·pend·ing, sus·pends v.tr. 1. To bar for a period from a privilege, office, or position, usually as a punishment: suspend a student from school. its own vertical probe development efforts upon forming a manufacturing joint venture for the assembly and repair of the vertical probe card product of Upsys, a French testing and engineering company, in March 1997. Cerprobe announced earlier Tuesday that it had terminated negotiations to purchase the probe card operations of Upsys. Commenting on the company's revised strategy, Close said, "The demand for vertical probing of memory chips is down significantly due to the economic difficulties in Asia. Additionally, the domestic vertical probe card market for next generation grid array IC designs has not ramped up due to the current excess inventory of older chip designs and the introduction delays of several new IC designs. "These market conditions have provided us with the opportunity to further develop our own vertical probe card products, rather than purchase the technology at a significant premium." Cerprobe designs, manufactures, and markets products for the high-performance testing of integrated circuits and other microelectronics microelectronics, branch of electronic technology devoted to the design and development of extremely small electronic devices that consume very little electric power. components. The company, which sells its products to semiconductor manufacturers worldwide, has manufacturing facilities in Arizona, California, and Texas, with international subsidiaries operating in Scotland, Singapore, and Taiwan. "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. " Statement under 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: The statements in this release regarding the company's expected development, introduction, and volume production of new vertical probe card products in sync with its customers' production ramps of new chip designs are 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. that include various risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to product demand and development, technological advancements, impact of competitive products and pricing, growth of targeted markets, manufacturing capacity, and other factors that are detailed from time to time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Cerprobe Corp., Gilbert
Randal L. Buness, 602/333-1500
or
Silverman Heller Associates
Philip Bourdillon/Eugene Heller, 310/208-2550
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