FormFactor to Focus on Test Cost Reduction with Elpida.LIVERMORE, Calif. -- FormFactor, Inc. (Nasdaq:FORM) today announced that Elpida Memory Elpida Memory, Inc. (エルピーダメモリ株式会社 , one of the world's leading DRAM manufacturers, has agreed to a strategic relationship with FormFactor to help Elpida achieve annual reductions in its cost of test. Elpida will collaborate with FormFactor to create a customized test solution roadmap that tackles a range of opportunities to reduce test costs and increase return on investment (ROI (Return On Investment) The monetary benefits derived from having spent money on developing or revising a system. In the IT world, there are more ways to compute ROI than Carter has liver pills (and for those of you who never heard of that expression, it means a lot). ). The collaboration incorporates a new approach to testing--one that looks beyond 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 as an isolated element in the test process and instead takes a holistic Holistic A practice of medicine that focuses on the whole patient, and addresses the social, emotional, and spiritual needs of a patient as well as their physical treatment. Mentioned in: Aromatherapy, Stress Reduction, Traditional Chinese Medicine view that examines the entire test function and its place in the manufacturing process. Working closely from chip design to fabrication fabrication (fab´rikā´sh  n),n the construction or making of a restoration. , and from 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. test to final test, Elpida can leverage FormFactor's advanced probing capabilities to optimize their entire test flow, improve throughput, optimize test resources, accelerate yield learning and reduce product cost. With semiconductor manufacturing becoming more challenging, test is playing an increasingly strategic role in ensuring the highest yield and quality for advanced ICs. "Our customers are under increasing pressure to reduce their cost of test and product costs, shorten their time to market, and cope with the growing complexity of testing requirements for their advanced products," stated Igor Khandros, chief executive officer of FormFactor. "The current approach of 'spot-market' engagement used by wafer test suppliers is not structured to help their customers effectively meet these challenges. FormFactor is redefining the supplier-customer relationship with a collaborative approach designed to continuously reduce their test costs year over year. We're pleased to have the opportunity to work with Elpida under this new framework and help them to achieve even greater reductions in their cost of test as well as longer-term business objectives." 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. Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical in nature are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding the performance of our products. These forward-looking statements are based on current information and expectations that are inherently subject to change and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results might differ materially from those in any forward-looking statement due to various factors, including, but not limited to, the company's ability: to work with customers to help optimize their entire test flow, improve throughput, optimize test resources, accelerate yield learning and reduce product cost, whether customers adopt the company's collaborative approach to test which is designed to continuously reduce customers' test costs year over year, and the company's ability to develop and deliver innovative technologies for its customers. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statement is contained in the company's Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2006 and the company's subsequent 10-Q and 8-K filings, which the company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Copies of the company's SEC filings are available at http://investors.formfactor.com/edgar.cfm. The company assumes no obligation to update the information in this press release, to revise any forward-looking statements or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements. About FormFactor Founded in 1993, FormFactor, Inc. (Nasdaq:FORM) is the leader in advanced wafer probe cards, which are used by semiconductor manufacturers to electrically test ICs. The company's wafer sort, burn-in and device performance testing Performance Testing covers a broad range of engineering or functional evaluations where a material, product, or system is not specified by detailed material or component specifications: Rather, emphasis is on the final measurable performance characteristics. products move IC testing upstream from post-packaging to the wafer level, enabling semiconductor manufacturers to lower their overall production costs, improve yields, and bring next-generation devices to market. FormFactor is headquartered in Livermore, California Livermore is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. The population was 80,723 as of January 1, 2007.[2] Livermore is located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Livermore is a "major suburb" of the Bay Area. with operations in Europe, Asia and North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. . For more information, visit the company's web site at www.formfactor.com. FormFactor is a registered trademark of FormFactor, Inc. |
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