Credence Installs Non-Volatile Memory Test Systems at Lingsen Precision Industries.

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 28, 1999--

Credence Systems Corporation (Nasdaq:CMOS), a leading manufacturer of automatic test equipment (ATE) for the worldwide semiconductor industry, today announced that Lingsen Precision Industries, Ltd. installed the Kalos and Triton Memory components of Credence's non-volatile memory (NVM) test platform.

Lingsen, a leading assembly and test subcontractor in Taiwan, will use the Kalos and Triton Memory systems for testing flash memory and logic devices in wafer sort and final production test applications at its Taichung, Taiwan facility.

Credence's advanced product suite tests NVM devices at every stage of production, efficiently maximizing tester resources with its single platform concept. Credence's integrated NVM testing platform will be utilized by Lingsen to validate flash memory components and logic devices with significant time-to-market advantages, thereby lowering the overall cost of test while raising productivity.

"Lingsen's order of the Kalos and Triton Memory test systems solidifies our existing relationship with Credence," said Jeffrey Wen, Lingsen's section manager. "Lingsen chose Credence's NVM test platform because of its unparalleled versatility in testing memory and logic devices in engineering, wafer sort and final test applications. This kind of versatility is key to the productivity and profitability of our operation, allowing the systems to be efficiently applied to a number of different requirements."

Subcontract manufacturing services (SMS) companies continue to proliferate, as an era of "outsourcing" becomes the recognized standard business model. The escalating cost of test associated with increasingly complex integrated circuit (IC) designs is causing integrated device manufacturers to transfer more of this work to subcontractors. As the ATE market share leader in the SMS industry, Credence's tools are key enablers for subcontractors working to drive down their costs while raising productivity.

Dave Ranhoff, co-president of Credence, commented on the installation, "This order underscores the acceptance of Credence's non-volatile memory testing platform in test and assembly houses. Credence's advanced systems provide the flexibility and performance required by semiconductor subcontractor assembly companies, furthering Credence's established prominence in this market."

About Credence's NVM Platform

The NVM product line includes Triton Memory, which allows for full speed test of devices during wafer sort. A workcell wafer test solution for flash memory devices, Triton Memory features a production-proven wafer prober seamlessly integrated with a robust ATE test system. A workcell enhances manufacturing productivity by synthesizing previously distinct equipment into a single, highly efficient tool.

Kalos, featuring the industry's first Tester-On-A-Card architecture, is specifically designed for the high-speed volume requirements of wafer sort and final production test. Production configurations of Kalos can be interfaced directly with handlers for parallel testing of final packaged devices. Personal Kalos enables an engineer to develop test programs and perform device tests and yield analysis on a desktop, then transfer the test program directly to production.

Kalos is the Value Standard of NVM test, providing device manufacturers with a single platform solution for test development through parallel wafer sort and final package test with reduced support costs and minimal resource usage, resulting in the lowest cost of test, smallest footprint and quickest time-to-market.

About Lingsen Precision Industries, Ltd.

Lingsen Precision Industries, Ltd. (LPI) was founded in 1970 to be the captive assembler for a joint venture between Mitsubishi Electric  Corp and Dahsen Electronic Industries, Ltd., in Tapiei, Taiwan. In 1973, Lingsen Precision Industries, Ltd. was reorganized as a wholly owned and independent subcontract assembly company.

Through the years, LPI has emerged as a leader of semiconductor subcontract assembly in Taiwan. LPI's engineering and production teams have earned a formidable reputation worldwide for providing high-quality product lines and reliability in its total processes. LPI's assembly capabilities are proven through the US, Europe, and Asia. More information is available at http://www.lingsen.com.

About Credence

Credence Systems Corporation is a leader in the manufacture of automatic test equipment (ATE) for the global semiconductor industry. Credence offers a wide range of products with test capabilities for digital, mixed-signal, and memory semiconductors.

Utilizing its patented CMOS technologies, Credence products are designed to meet the strict time-to-market and cost of ownership requirements of its customers. Headquartered in Fremont, the company maintains advanced production and design facilities in Beaverton, Ore.

Credence, an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer, is listed on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol CMOS. More information is available at http://www.credence.com.

Note to Editors: Credence, Credence Systems, Triton, Triton Memory, Tester-On-A-Card, Kalos, and Personal Kalos are trademarks of Credence Systems Corporation. Other trademarks that maybe mentioned in this release are the intellectual property of their respective owners.