Veeco's NeXray First to Market With PRI Automation's New MetaPort Software Solution
MetaPort, a pre-integrated software interface to factory-automation systems, enables OEM to get its tool to market faster
BILLERICA, Mass., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- PRI Automation, Inc., (Nasdaq: PRIA, Toronto: PRJ), a global leader in semiconductor factory automation systems, software, and services, today announced the first sale of its newly introduced EquipeSoft(TM) MetaPort configurable system software to NeXray, a global supplier of production film measurement tools and wholly-owned subsidiary of Veeco Instruments, Inc. (Nasdaq: VECO - news). NeXray has selected PRI's EquipeSoft MetaPort, a pre-integrated software interface to factory automation systems, to automate its Micro-Beam X-Ray Fluorescence (MXRF) tool. The tool shipped to a major fab in Germany after a short eight-week integration with MetaPort.
``The OEM market continues to be a huge opportunity for PRI, as companies such as Veeco's NeXray seek to outsource the automation components of their process tools,'' said Bill Murvihill, business unit director for PRI's EquipeSoft group. ``Our MetaPort system software is attractive to process tool manufacturers because it is not only a time-to-market enabler for new semiconductor processes, but it also can save them millions in R&D dollars.''
PRI's EquipeSoft MetaPort provides semiconductor equipment manufacturers with a pre-integrated software interface to factory automation systems in 200mm and 300mm fabs. It supports all industry-required standards and 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.
``Trusted Partner'' provides solution at minimal time and cost to customer
NeXray's CXR optically collimated MXRF tool produces high-intensity beams less than 100 microns, which will provide the German fab with a high level of accuracy, precision, and reproducibility in its metrology operations. ``We've selected PRI's fully configurable MetaPort system because it can be configured and deployed at minimal time and cost to our customer,'' said Frank Reilly, director of sales and marketing at NeXray. ``In addition, we view PRI's position in the semiconductor marketplace as a trusted partner, with its products consistently achieving the highest standards of quality, durability and efficiency.''
PRI's EquipeSoft MetaPort is one of several PRI tool connectivity software solutions that enable semiconductor equipment manufacturers to quickly and easily link their process tools to fab-wide software and hardware systems. These connections enable semiconductor manufacturers to more readily access key production data and make more informed decisions that can improve overall the throughput and productivity of their fabs.
About NeXray
NeXray, headquartered in Ronkonkoma, New York, is a worldwide leader in metrology tools for the microelectronics, optical, telecom and data storage markets. Global sales and service offices are located throughout the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia-Pacific. NeXray, LLC, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Veeco Instruments, Inc. (Nasdaq: VECO - news). Additional information on NeXray can be found at veeco.com.
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 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.
EquipeSoft MetaPort is a trademark of PRI Automation, Inc. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. |
