ErgoTech Announces TransSECS -- SECS Without Programming; Graphical Host/Equipment SECS Interfaces With Direct Links to Factory Data.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

LOS ALAMOS, N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 14, 2002

ErgoTech releases TransSECS(TM) which, for the first time ever, allows complete SECS/GEM applications to be created without any coding.

With this new product you can rapidly build and deploy host applications or equipment interfaces, or even "voyeur" applications that snoop SECS messages. Host applications might include equipment monitoring or recipe management, including SECS and SQL Database interactions -- all created graphically.

TransSECS's graphical interface allows creation of SECS messages in a tree-style editor that then generates the messages as standard JavaBeans(TM). The resulting components are graphically "wired" in ErgoTech's design editor to create logic and graphical user interfaces. Data from factory automation devices and from many factory automation applications can be seamlessly integrated into SECS messages by wiring the data sources to the Message Beans. ErgoTech provides an OPC interface to allow a direct interface to standard factory automation and control applications. Available commercial or custom JavaBeans can be added to provide additional interfaces or other functionality. TransSECS runs on Microsoft Windows(TM) or on UNIX (e.g., Linux) platforms. Database beans allow saving of SECS data directly to any standard database and database queries.

"TransSECS bridges ErgoTech's two areas of expertise -- SECS and factory automation," states Jim Redman, president of ErgoTech, "TransSECS allows semiconductor equipment created with factory automation interfaces, such as PLCs or an OPC interface, to be SECS enabled in hours or days rather than weeks or months."

TransSECS is built on ErgoTech's Java(TM) SECS product and supports HSMS or SECSI communication and a translation between them, if necessary. Access to plant-wide factory information data is through ErgoTech's "Virtual Instrumentation Beans(TM)". User interfaces, including thin-client Web-based applet and full-screen operator interfaces for monitoring, control and diagnostics, can be created simultaneously.

TransSECS equipment applications are ideally deployed with ErgoTech's ErgoVU, which provides a Web server, database access, user authentication, alarming and other features necessary for a full-featured system. Host applications can be deployed to ErgoVU or to J2EE application servers.

A Trial version of TransSECS is available by request; see ErgoTech's Web site for more details. ErgoTech also provides training courses and pre-sales seminars.

About ErgoTech Systems, Inc.

ErgoTech Systems, Inc., headquartered in Los Alamos, NM, provides Java-based manufacturing integration, control and monitoring solutions and tools, as well as additional specialized communication software for the pharmaceutical and semiconductor industries. The Company's Internet address is http://www.ergotech.com, and phone number is 505/662-5156.

Java and JavaBeans are registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and worldwide. TransSECS, VIB, Virtual Instrumentation Beans, and ErgoVU are trademarks of ErgoTech Systems, Inc. Other trademarks are trademarks of their respective companies.