Nova Measuring Instruments to Incorporate PRI Automation's Integrated Front Ends and Metaport Software Into New 300mm Metrology Engineering Station
Metrology company selects PRI for its experience, reliability and ability to integrate solution in just five weeks
BILLERICA, Mass., and REHOVOTH, Israel, Dec. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- PRI Automation, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRIA, Toronto: PRJ) a global leader in semiconductor factory automation systems, software, and services; and Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. (Nasdaq: NVMI - news), the market leader in integrated metrology systems, announced today that Nova has selected PRI to provide the automation interfaces for its latest 300mm process tool. Nova will incorporate PRI's Integrated Front End hardware and EquipeSoft(TM) MetaPort software into its NovaScan(TM) Engineering Station, a new member of Nova's NovaScan Integrated Metrology product family, to ensure that the product is compatible with the factory-wide automation systems and data networks required in 300mm semiconductor fabs.
According to Ronen Frish, vice president of Sales and Marketing for Nova Measuring Instruments, Nova selected PRI for its experience, high product quality and reliability. Another important consideration was PRI's ability to both integrate and test the products very quickly -- just five weeks, versus the six-month integration period common in the industry. ``The introduction of new applications to the NovaScan Integrated Metrology family created strong market demand for our Engineering Station solution,'' said Frish. ``Outstanding teamwork between Nova and PRI Automation has enabled us to bring to market in record time a complete product that meets the toughest 300mm specifications.''
``Automation standards compliance presents tremendous resource allocation and time-to-market challenges for a process tool manufacturer,'' noted Robert de Neve, vice president and general manager of PRI Automation's OEM Systems Division. ``With nearly 20 years' experience in tool automation and a comprehensive set of world-class hardware and software automation components, we believe we are a terrific partner for companies such as Nova. We look forward to working with Nova to automate their new line of integrated metrology products.''
NovaScan Engineering Station designed for Integrated Metrology
The NovaScan Engineering Station, which can operate as a fully automated stand-alone metrology system, was designed to enable production-simple recipe creation and data management for 200mm and 300mm production lines using Integrated Metrology. The NovaScan Engineering system provides complete matching among all of Nova's Integrated systems. The Measurement Unit on the Engineering Station is identical to the Measurement Unit on the Integrated Metrology system, allowing 100 percent compatibility and easy swapping between systems. The Engineering Station will be key for the introduction of new Integrated Metrology systems and solutions such as metrology for Cu CMP or Optical Profiling.
PRI's IFE, EquipeSoft MetaPort provide critical links in 300mm fabs
PRI's Integrated Front End solutions bridge the gap between process or metrology tools and the complex automation environment in a modern fab. Wafer handling front-end systems typically attach to the front of a process or metrology tool and move the wafer substrates between their carriers and the tool. PRI's IFE solutions are the industry's most comprehensive and set new standards for performance in cleanliness (ISO Class 1 certified), throughput, reliability and cost of ownership. With EquipeSoft MetaPort integration, PRI is able to offer complete turnkey automated wafer handling and user/MES interface solutions that allow tool makers to focus on their own core process competencies. PRI's modular IFE design delivers process tool manufacturers the shortest lead time in the industry -- typically eight weeks from order to delivery.
PRI's EquipeSoft MetaPort provides process tool manufacturers with a pre- integrated software interface to factory automation systems in 200mm and 300mm fabs. It enables full connectivity to the fab data network or independent networks such as NovaNet. EquipeSoft MetaPort 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. It can be integrated with a process tool in just five weeks.
About Nova Measuring Instruments
Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. develops, designs and produces integrated process control systems in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. Nova provides a broad range of integrated process control solutions that link between different semiconductor processes and process equipment. For more information, please visit Nova's web site at www.nova.co.il.
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 www.pria.com.
Safe Harbor Statement -- Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements related to anticipated growth rates, manufacturing capacity and tax rate. Actual results may differ materially from those projected due to a number of risks, including changes in customer demands for our products, new product offerings from our competitors, changes in or an inability to execute our business strategy, unanticipated manufacturing or supply problems, or changes in tax requirements. Nova cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The matters discussed in this press release also involve risks and uncertainties summarized under the heading ``Risk Factors'' in Nova's Form F-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 9, 2000. These factors are updated from time to time through the filing of reports and registration statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.
Safe Harbor Statement -- PRI Automation, Inc.
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; 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; 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; our operations outside North America expose us to special risks of doing business internationally; we face significant competition from other automation companies; 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; 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 is a trademark of PRI Automation, Inc. NovaScan is a trademark of Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE: PRI Automation, Inc. |
