Computerworld Selects PRI Automation as Top 25 Wireless Innovator
Semiconductor equipment leader wins kudos for providing customers with wireless access to critical tech support information
BILLERICA, Mass., Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- PRI Automation, Inc., (Nasdaq: PRIA, Toronto: PRJ), a global leader in semiconductor factory automation systems, software and services, announced today that it has been named a Top 25 Wireless Innovator for 2001 by ComputerworldROI, a bimonthly supplement to IDG's Computerworld magazine. PRI won this honor for successfully implementing a pilot program to provide wireless access to its e-volution(TM) Training & Performance Support System. This pilot system enables PRI employees and customers to access critical technical support information anytime from any place. The wireless access program was developed in partnership with Generation21, a Renaissance Learning, Inc. (Nasdaq: RLRN - news) company that provides Web-based learning management systems.
Organizations ultimately selected as ComputerworldROI 25 Wireless Innovators are those whose wireless deployments and pilot programs demonstrated a measurable return on investment, and documented a positive impact on customers and/or employees. These organizations are clear frontrunners in successfully employing emerging and rapidly evolving wireless technologies to accomplish strategic business goals in a new and innovative way.
Wireless support applications can provide tremendous cost savings to PRI customers
PRI's integrated automation systems manage the flow of valuable and fragile work-in-process in computer chip factories, known as fabs. Automation is critical for maintaining rapid output in fabs, where an hour of equipment downtime can cost $100,000 or more. PRI's e-volution system is used by customers and by PRI field support team members to address equipment maintenance on the fab floor.
Currently, users access the e-volution system via dedicated terminals in fabs. During the pilot program, PRI worked with Generation21 to create wireless e-volution system access, thus providing the first wireless tech support application for semiconductor factory automation systems. In beta tests, the wireless e-volution system reduced the time required to find critical information from an average of five minutes to just 45 seconds.
``Every minute of downtime avoided in a semiconductor fab translates into thousands of dollars in incremental revenue,'' explained Peter Parsons, director of Product Knowledge and Learning Systems for PRI Automation. ``Our customers are very excited about getting their hands on this technology.'' Parsons reports that PRI's e-volution system will be available by the end of 2001, and will be accessible through many types of wireless device including PDAs, tablets and mobile phones.
``PRI and other members of the Wireless 25 are true game changers,'' said Julia King, executive editor of ComputerworldROI. ``Their bold and inventive applications of fast-changing wireless technologies have enabled them to break away from the pack and establish themselves as innovators not only in their own industries, but across the competitive business landscape.''
To select the Wireless 25, a panel of Computerworld and ComputerworldROI editors reviewed wireless project nominations from 115 companies, representing business, education and government organizations. Of those nominations, a final list of 25 innovators was chosen based on the strategic nature of the wireless project, the risks associated with the project, and the degree to which the wireless project has yielded a positive return on investment measured in both financial and non-financial terms.
PRI and the other Wireless Innovators are featured in the Sept. 24, 2001 issue of ComputerworldROI (http://www.computerworld.com/roi).
About ComputerworldROI
ComputerworldROI is a bimonthly supplement to IDG's Computerworld that focuses specifically on information technology payback. Its target readers are senior executives and business strategists who play a leadership role in explaining and justifying technology choices to fellow executives. Rather than pure technologists, ROI's readers are people who understand how critical technology is to business success, and who must consistently find new ways to leverage that understanding. Additional information is available at www.computerworld.com/roi.
About Computerworld
Based in Framingham, Mass., Computerworld, Inc. is a complete information services company for the IT Leader community, providing print and online publications, books, conferences and research services. The company's flagship weekly newspaper for IT Leaders has been recognized numerous times by Folio: Magazine and the Computer Press Association as the best computer newspaper. With a circulation of 250,000, Computerworld has a total audience of 935,200, according to IntelliQuest CIMS v.7.0. News and resources for the IT Leader community are available at www.computerworld.com.
Computerworld is a business unit of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research and event company. IDG publishes more than 300 magazines and newspapers and offers online users the largest network of technology-specific sites around the world through IDG.net (www.idg.net), which comprises more than 300 targeted Web sites in 70 countries. IDG is also a leading producer of 168 computer-related events worldwide, and provides IT market analysis through 51 offices in 43 countries worldwide. Company information is available at www.idg.com.
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.
e-volution is a trademark of PRI Automation, Inc. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. |
