Earnings are out today (annual report) looks really good, click on "news" and SI will take you to it !
MITCH
ALSO, This was out today......
Keithley to Focus on High-Growth Segments of Test
and Measurement Industry
PR Newswire - November 11, 1998 12:17
CLEVELAND, Nov. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Keithley's decision to sell its Quantox product line to
KLA-Tencor (Nasdaq: KLAC), announced earlier today, will allow Keithley (NYSE: KEI) to
devote additional resources to penetrating targeted segments of the test and measurement
industry, including wireless communications, automotive electronics, computer peripherals,
applied research, and semiconductor parametric test.
Since 1994, Keithley made a number of moves to position itself as a capital equipment
manufacturer for the semiconductor market, in addition to its existing businesses in the test and
measurement industry. One of those moves included commercializing the unique non-contact
measurement technology in Quantox.
Keithley received several industry awards for Quantox, and deservedly so, since it represented a
significant contribution to measurement science. Orders have continued to steadily increase, with
Quantox today found in fabs around the world in some of the most demanding applications.
Despite these encouraging signs, the company realized it was not able to penetrate the "front end
of the fab," where multi-million dollar capital equipment is situated, and at the same time grow
its core test instrument business. The semiconductor industry's future conversion to 300mm
wafer standards was a particularly sobering challenge for Quantox. The investment in
re-engineering this would have weakened the company's ability to invest in other portions of the
business.
Keithley realizes tremendous leverage by developing precision Source- Measure-Connect
platforms and layering on top of that specialized software and applications expertise that apply to
a given market. All of the company's existing product lines, from semiconductor parametric
testers to data acquisition, allow it to use this model as a blueprint for growth.
Keithley will continue to focus its efforts upon high growth applications within target industries
that require its core competency of precision measurement expertise. Keithley's product
development efforts are organized around five core principles:
* Leveraging its core technologies across product lines.
* Developing technology platforms that are designed for both stand alone
and systems-level solutions.
* Pursuing complementary product lines that enable "complete measurement
solutions."
* Supporting open architectures that allow customers to use Keithley
products with their own operating systems.
* Adhering to regulatory and industry standards that assure global
acceptance of its products.
Keithley's management is confident in its future prospects for growth and profitability, and
anticipates continued success in bringing unique measurement solutions to its customers.
For more information on Keithley: |
