PRI Automation to Provide Equipment Integration and Station Control Software to Austria Mikro Systeme International
Open Architecture Design and Rapid Deployment Capability of Encore! FAbuilder Were Key to Winning New Order
BILLERICA, Mass., Jun 27, 2001 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- PRI Automation, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRIA), a global leader in advanced automation systems, software and services for the semiconductor industry, today announced that Austria Mikro Systeme International (AMS) has purchased the company's Encore!(R) FAbuilder(TM) equipment integration and station control software, consulting, and integration services. Encore! FAbuilder is a tool connectivity solution that provides a comprehensive environment for linking core manufacturing execution system (MES) functions to shop floor equipment. The product's open, flexible design and configuration methodology virtually eliminate the need for coding, resulting in development and deployment up to five times faster than other cell controller based solutions on the market.
"Time-to-market is very important as we look ahead to bringing our new fab online," said Gerhard Richter, project leader, Austria Mikro Systeme. "We have selected PRI's PROMIS(R) manufacturing execution system as the standard platform for running our new fab, so it was very important that our equipment integration software solution be optimized to work with PROMIS. Encore! FAbuilder provides the robust features we were looking for and will help speed the development of a fab-wide integration solution with our equipment set."
"Encore! FAbuilder continues to gain market momentum as an easy-to-use, feature-rich tool connectivity software solution," said Jim Golden, vice president and general manager of PRI's Factory Management Software Division. "In the past year we have seen sales of Encore! FAbuilder expand, winning key new accounts in Asia, Europe and North America. This is a strategic win as it represents another significant order in our Europe region."
Encore! FAbuilder will be installed in the new AMS 200mm ASIC / ASSP fab as the equipment interface for the entire fab. Because Encore! FAbuilder is integrated with PROMIS, users can eliminate up to 80 percent of the MES integration effort. In addition to the software purchase, the deal includes PRI's Customer Integration Services (CIS) to augment AMS staff and to assist in rapid and effective tool connectivity.
For this key specification, AMS contracted Semiconductor Equipment Automation and Logistics (SEAL) to recommend and implement the company's automation equipment and strategy. SEAL will also be involved in the CIM integration effort and will be working with both PRI and AMS to ensure a smooth implementation. Wolfgang Mayr, managing director of SEAL, was responsible for helping AMS select its automation and CIM solutions for deployment in the fab. "PRI's Encore! FAbuilder solution was recommended because of its ease-of-use, flexibility, and its ability to develop equipment interfaces in record time by leveraging reusable equipment interface templates," said Mr. Mayr. "Another important factor in our decision was PRI's continual enhancement of the Encore! FAbuilder product, including multi- tiered equipment interface (EI) architecture, multi-message hot send and reports, and remote management, all important enhancements in today's rapidly changing factories."
The Encore! FAbuilder purchase is part of a global PRI-AMS deal, which includes the previous purchases of PROMIS, as well as additional orders for two Guardian(TM) bare reticle stockers and TransNet(TM) reticle management software (TRMS).
About Austria Mikro Systeme
For nearly 20 years Austria Mikro Systeme International has specialized in developing and producing application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and application-specific standard products (ASSPs). Austria Mikro Systeme International offers a broad range of customer solutions for the automotive, communication, and industrial markets. The company, whose headquarters are located near Graz/Austria, is one of Europe's market leaders in mixed analog/digital ASICs. The company provides a wide range of semiconductor processes tailored to the customer's needs, such as HV-CMOS, BiCMOS, SiGe, and CMOS in structural widths down to 0.35 um. For more information, visit Austria Mikro Systeme online at amsint.com. |
