Ultratech Enhances Product Portfolio With New Application-specific Family of Reduction Lithography Tools
Business Wire - July 12, 1999 08:43
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 12, 1999--
Mercury XLS Family Addresses Resolution Requirements Down to 0.25 Micron
Ultratech Stepper, Inc. (Nasdaq NM:UTEK), a leading supplier of photolithography systems used to manufacture semiconductors, micromachining devices and thin film heads (TFH) for disk drives, today announced the introduction of the Mercury XLS family -- a series of reduction tools designed to address the complete range of application-specific lithography needs for resolution requirements down to 0.25 micron. Based on Ultratech's leading-edge, production-proven 1X product lines, the company now provides a family of new reduction steppers. The Mercury XLS 100, the Mercury XLS 200 and the Mercury XLS 300 will supplement the company's product offerings and will be used in a number of Ultratech's served markets.
With double-digit growth and potential lower unit prices predicted by Dataquest for the semiconductor industry through 2001, the company believes the demand for cost-effective, leading-edge processes, both 1X and reduction, will become more critical. Recent reports from Dataquest suggest that global revenues in this industry will grow to $244 billion by 2003. Not surprisingly, chip manufacturers continue to press for more sophisticated lithography tools with low capital costs. The introduction of the Mercury XLS family is Ultratech's latest response to application-specific integrated circuit demands for more advanced lithography tools.
Commenting on the new product family, Ultratech's president and chief operating officer, Daniel Berry, pointed to the company's record of delivering high-performing, cost-effective lithography systems to the TFH and semiconductor packaging markets. "Our significant share of these markets says much about our ability to meet customers' leading-edge technology needs with higher-resolution tools. The Mercury XLS family now allows us to apply our expertise to new market segments within the semiconductor arena, further extending the range of application-specific, low-capital-cost lithography equipment options available to our customers," stated Berry.
The Mercury XLS reduction systems offer higher-resolution capabilities and complement Ultratech's existing 1X tools. The XLS 100 offers a resolution of 0.5 micron. The XLS 200 offers a resolution of 0.35 micron and the XLS 300 offers a resolution of 0.25 micron. All systems have high precision stages, together with the low-lens distortion required for cost-effective complementary lithography and can be used in conjunction with Ultratech's 1X tools in a mix-and-match configuration.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain of the statements contained herein may be considered forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, such as dependence on new product introductions and commercial success of any new products, risks associated with introducing new technologies, the cyclicality in the thin film head and semiconductor industries, competition, lengthy sales cycles for the company's systems, pricing pressures, the mix of products sold, delays, deferrals and cancellations of orders by customers, manufacturing inefficiencies and absorption levels, ability to volume-produce systems and meet customer requirements, integration and development of the UltraBeam and Verdant operations, inventory obsolescence, adjustments relating to the potential change in accounting for the ISI acquisition, the failure to develop and commercialize the ISI products, delays in collecting accounts receivable, extended payment terms, economic and political conditions in Asia and changes in technologies. Such risks and uncertainties are set forth in the company's SEC reports, including the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 1998, and its Form 10Q for the period ended March 31, 1999.
About Ultratech: Founded in 1979, Ultratech Stepper, Inc. designs, manufactures and markets photolithography equipment used worldwide in the fabrication of integrated circuits, micromachining devices, thin film heads for disk drives and photomasks for the semiconductor industry. The company produces products that substantially reduce the cost of ownership for manufacturers in the electronics industry. The company's home page on the World Wide Web is located at ultratech.com
CONTACT: Ultratech Stepper, Inc.
Laura Rebouche, 408/321-8835
Fax: 408/577-3379
email: lrebouche@corp.ultratech.com
or
MCA
Jane Evans-Ryan, 650/968-8900
Fax: 650/968-8990
email: jryan@mcapr.com
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