QED Recognized for Cutting Edge Technology.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- QED Technologies, in conjunction with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Zygo Corporation, recently won a prestigious R&D 100 Award for 2007, granted by R&D Magazine for the 100 most technologically significant products introduced into the marketplace in the past year. The winning project, "Large Aperture Continuous Phase Plate Optics Manufactured Using Magnetorheological Finishing", cites QED Technologies' Magnetorheological Finishing (MRF([R])) technology as enabling the manufacture, precision and world-class performance of continuous phase plates.

Continuous phase plates are a vital part of the optics chain for kilojoule- and megajoule-class laser systems such as the National Ignition Facility at LLNL, Laser Megajoule near Bordeaux, France, and OMEGA at the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics. These high energy lasers are invaluable tools at the forefront of high energy density physics and inertial confinement fusion research, areas of physics seen as one of the most promising by the National Academy of Sciences. Continuous phase plates make it possible to precisely manipulate and control laser beam shapes, energy distributions, and wavefront profiles. Their manufacture involves imprinting the surface of a large-aperture optic with a topographical structure that is polished into the surface using QED Technologies' MRF technology. After polishing, these optics measure to within 30 nanometers--or about one-millionth of an inch--of topographical design specifications. Continuous phase plates represent the first and only of their kind in the large-aperture beam-conditioning optic category that can be manufactured to the extreme tolerances required for use on systems like the National Ignition Facility, the world's largest laser system and targeting facility.

"The development of advanced Magnetorheological Finishing and topographical imprinting resulted in truly enabling the capability for manufacturing ultra-precision optics. This represents a milestone to LLNL's National Ignition Facility in pursuit of its efforts for nuclear fusion", said Joe Menapace of LLNL.

"Innovation and creating enabling technologies is at the heart of everything that we do at QED Technologies", said Marc Tricard, Director of Business Development. "I'd like to acknowledge the years of research, design and testing that our engineering teams dedicated to developing advanced MRF technology."

ABOUT QED TECHNOLOGIES

Since it was founded in 1996, QED Technologies, based in Rochester, NY, has built a reputation for producing high quality products based on revolutionary, patented technology, advanced computer numerical control machines and world-class software to provide shop-ready solutions for nearly any precision optics manufacturing need. QED offers state-of-the-art finishing and metrology solutions that are designed to meet the needs of advanced optics manufacturers by increasing production speed and yield while decreasing costs. QED is dedicated to providing revolutionary technical solutions that enable or significantly enhance its customers' capabilities and positively impact their bottom line. QED Technologies is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cabot Microelectronics Corporation (NASDAQ:CCMP). For more information about QED Technologies, visit www.qedmrf.com or contact Robin Townell, Marketing Specialist, at 585-256-6540 ext. 241.

ABOUT CABOT MICROELECTRONICS CORPORATION

Cabot Microelectronics Corporation, headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, is the world's leading supplier of CMP slurries used in semiconductor and data storage manufacturing. The company's products play a critical role in the production of the most advanced semiconductor devices, enabling the manufacture of smaller, faster and more complex devices by its customers. Since becoming an independent public company in 2000, the company has grown to approximately 750 employees who work at research and development labs, sales and business offices, manufacturing facilities and customer service centers in China, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The company's vision is to become the world leader in shaping, enabling and enhancing the performance of surfaces. The company is leveraging its expertise in CMP slurry formulation, materials and polishing techniques developed for the semiconductor industry and applying it to demanding surface modification applications in other industries where shaping, enabling and enhancing the performance of surfaces is critical to success. For more information about Cabot Microelectronics Corporation, visit www.cabotcmp.com or contact Amy Ford, Director of Investor Relations, at 630-499-2600.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This news release may include statements that constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities regulations. These forward-looking statements include statements related to: future sales and operating results; company and industry growth or trends; growth of the markets in which the company participates; international events; product performance; the generation, protection and acquisition of intellectual property, and litigation related to such intellectual property; new product introductions; development of new products, technologies and markets; the acquisition of or investment in other entities; and the construction of new or refurbishment of existing facilities by Cabot Microelectronics Corporation. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including those described from time to time in Cabot Microelectronics' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described by these forward-looking statements. In particular, see "Risk Factors" in the company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 and in the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, both filed with the SEC. Cabot Microelectronics assumes no obligation to update this forward-looking information.