PRI Automation Announces EquipeSoft Metaport
New Software Solution to Provide Systems Automation to 300mm Semiconductor Process Tools
SAN FRANCISCO, SEMICON West, Booth #6168 -- July 17 /PRNewswire/ -- PRI Automation, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRIA - news), a global leader in advanced automation systems, software, and services to the semiconductor industry, today announced that it has released EquipeSoft(TM) MetaPort. The system automation software is designed as a configurable solution for 300mm semiconductor process tools. The product provides immediate and complete system software automation to process tools while also supporting industry-required SEMI 300mm software standards.
``Over the last 10 years, the design cycle of semiconductor products has accelerated dramatically,'' said Rick Vatcher, Vice President and General Manager of PRI Automation's Software Division. ``At the same time, the demands for software-related functionality in the tools that make those chips have exploded. This means that semiconductor equipment companies have much less time to do much more software development. MetaPort provides a full suite of system-level services and features as well as pre-integrated support for the full complement of 300 MM SEMI software standards. This is all packaged into a fully configurable system that enables OEMs to return their development focus to their value-added processes.''
MetaPort's configurability enables equipment engineers to select off-the- shelf automation components from a broad range of vendors. During mass production of a tool, vendors can be chosen based on lead-time, rather than by being designed into the product. Moreover, as end-user requirements dictate different automation configurations, the implications for the software department are negligible. When combined with PRI Automation's integrated front-end (IFE), process tool companies can achieve 300mm automation capability and standards compliance with minimal development expense.
The software is configurable for any combination of popular components for equipment front-end modules including load ports, handling robots, centering and aligning units, wafer and carrier ID readers, and other peripheral components. The full set of system-level automation features that EquipeSoft MetaPort provides includes: lot control, wafer flow scheduling, preventive maintenance, exception management, data collection, manual control, and user management.
Along with being compliant with SEMI software standards, EquipeSoft MetaPort also provides non-standard connectivity via paging, email, Web browsing, Web hosting, as well as COM/DCOM and CORBA interfaces for data, event, exception and lot management services.
About PRI Automation
PRI Automation, Inc., headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts, is a leading global supplier of advanced factory automation systems, software, and services to semiconductor manufacturers and OEM equipment suppliers. PRI is the only company to provide a tightly integrated and flexible hardware and software solution that optimizes the flow of materials and information throughout the fab improving the productivity of semiconductor manufacturing. The company has thousands of systems installed at hundreds of locations throughout the world. For more information visit PRI online at www.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; (i) the manner in which the customer uses the products and integrates them with other third party components; (ii) the ability of the company to continue to successfully develop and market new products and product enhancements on a timely basis; (iii) the cyclicality of the semiconductor industry and the rapid technological change that characterizes the industry in which the Company competes; (iv) uncertainties affecting global markets and currencies, the effects of possible delays by semiconductor manufacturers in the adoption of 300 mm wafer manufacturing and other new technologies, (v) changes in our product sales mix; (xi) competitive factors, such as introduction of new products or technologies by our competitors, and pricing pressures; (vi) the possible impact of any mergers and acquisitions activity by the Company and its ability to successfully integrate and operate any acquired businesses; (vii) business and economic conditions affecting the semiconductor manufacturing equipment industry generally; (viii) and other factors identified in our registration statement on Form S-3, file number 333- 34584, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 12, 2000 and amended thereafter. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this release. |
