PRI Automation Selected as Preferred Vendor of Reticle Management For a Top U.S. Semiconductor Manufacturer's 300mm Fabs
PRI continues leadership in bare-reticle storage
BILLERICA, Mass., Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- PRI Automation, Inc., (Nasdaq: PRIA, Toronto: PRJ), a global leader in semiconductor factory automation systems, software, and services, announced today that a top U.S. semiconductor manufacturer has selected PRI as its preferred vendor of bare-reticle storage for its 300mm fabs, after completing a successful beta evaluation of PRI's Guardian(TM) Bare Reticle Stocker.
According to the customer, PRI was selected for a number of reasons:
Its experience in bare-reticle storage -- PRI introduced this important breakthrough technology in 1995;
The Guardian's unique ``Vault'' design, which totally isolates the stored reticles from any moving parts and potential contamination;
PRI's ability to expand the system to incorporate automated transport and delivery of reticles to steppers;
The Guardian's superior storage density, which enables the customer to store a greater number of reticles in just one-fifth the space required by competitive systems; and
PRI's high-quality service and worldwide field support.
According to Mitch Tyson, president and CEO of PRI Automation, reticle management represents a huge growth opportunity for PRI. Already, the company has earned over 66 percent market share in the lithography management market - seven times higher than its nearest competitor - according to technology research firm Gartner. ``Analysts estimate that only five percent of reticles are currently stored in automated systems,'' said Tyson. ``PRI has a significant head start in this area, and dominant market share. Our selection as the preferred vendor for this customer demonstrates that PRI's leadership in this area extends to 300mm wafer fabs.'' To date, PRI has shipped approximately 200 reticle stockers to fabs throughout the world.
PRI's Guardian can store reticles at one-fifth the footprint of traditional systems
Automated reticle handling systems are emerging as an effective approach to lowering costs and increasing productivity within lithography bays. PRI's Guardian is capable of providing substantial cost savings in semiconductor fabs by reducing the total number of reticle carriers needed and freeing up valuable cleanroom floor space for additional process tools. It provides the highest reticle storage density of any storage solution on the market and is ideal for customers who need to manage a large reticle inventory. In a typical storage application of 1,500 reticles, where the reticles were previously stored in monopods, PRI's Guardian Bare Reticle Stocker can save the customer $500,000 or more in carrier costs and requires just one-fifth the floor space.
The Guardian's unique reticle storage chamber, or ``vault,'' totally isolates the stored reticles from any mechanisms, thus reducing concerns customers have about contamination, electrostatic discharge and seismic performance. This allows PRI's customers to take advantage of the huge economic benefits of bare reticle storage.
The Guardian Bare Reticle Stocker is part of an expanding suite of PRI lithography automation products. The company's integrated TransFab(TM) Automated Reticle Delivery System, of which Guardian is a part, enables complete hands-off storage, retrieval and delivery of reticles to steppers.
About PRI Automation
PRI Automation, Inc., headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts, is a leading global supplier of advanced factory automation systems, software, and services that optimize the productivity of semiconductor and precision electronics manufacturers, as well as OEM process tool manufacturers. PRI is the only company to provide a tightly integrated and flexible hardware and software solution that optimizes the flow of products, data, materials and resources throughout the production chain. The company has thousands of systems installed at approximately one hundred locations throughout the world. For more information visit PRI online at pria.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This release includes forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements relating to the expected benefits of PRI Automation products. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include the manner in which the customer uses the products and integrates them with third-party components and the following additional factors: the downturn in the semiconductor capital equipment industry is harming our business; fluctuating demand for our products makes it difficult to manage our business efficiently; we have reduced our workforce in response to the industry downturn and reduced demand for our products and our smaller workforce may be inadequate to handle increased demand for our products; we may continue to experience delays and technical difficulties with new product introductions such as our TurboStocker product; 300mm technology, in which we have invested heavily, is being adopted more slowly than we expected and competition for early 300mm orders is intense; our lengthy sales cycle makes it difficult to anticipate sales; our operating results fluctuate significantly in response to a variety of factors; delay in our shipment of a single significant order could substantially decrease our sales for a period; the application of new accounting guidance under SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin number 101 will result in delayed recognition of revenues from our factory automation systems; we typically charge a fixed price for our factory automation systems and therefore, we are vulnerable to cost overruns; we have a limited number of customers, we do not have long-term purchase agreements with our customers, and the loss, cancellation or delay of an order by any of these customers could harm our business; we must continually improve our technology and develop new products to remain competitive; demand for less expensive semiconductor is increasing pressure to reduce our prices; industry consolidation and outsourcing could reduce the number of available customers; our operations outside North America expose us to special risks of doing business internationally; our investments in the Asia-Pacific market may not be successful; we face significant competition from other automation companies; future acquisitions may disrupt our operations; we are increasingly dependent on subcontractors and one or a few suppliers of certain components, subassemblies and manufacturing processes; the failure of our key suppliers to deliver components on time could harm our business; we depend on our executive officers and other key personnel; our software products may contain defects that could result in claims and harm our business; we may be unable to protect our proprietary technology; others might claim that we infringe their technology; rising energy costs may increase our operating expenses; we are subject to pending class action securities litigation that could be costly to defend, divert the attention of our management and, if determined adversely to us, seriously harm our business; and other factors identified in our registration statement on Form S-3, file number 333-60180, filed with the SEC on May 3, 2001. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements included in this release.
Guardian and TransFab are trademarks of PRI Automation, Inc. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
Media Contacts:
Dave Anderson Michelle Goodall Faulkner
Stauch, Vetromile & Mitchell PRI Automation, Inc.
401-438-0614 978-670-4270 x3161
dave@svmmarcom.com mfaulkner@pria.com
SOURCE: PRI Automation, Inc. |
