New Brooks-PRI Automation Solution Components Enable Semiconductor Manufacturers to Implement Equipment Engineering Solutions in Days Instead of Weeks
Products will be demonstrated at SEMICON West 2002, Booth #6176
CHELMSFORD, Mass., July 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/-- Brooks-PRI Automation, Inc. (Nasdaq: BRKS - News), which delivers total automation for semiconductor manufacturing, today announced the release of its APCbuilder V2.0 software and the introduction of its new EEScube customized hardware package, which together enable companies to implement and reap the benefits of Equipment Engineering Solutions (EES) - including Data Visualization, Fault Detection and Classification, Run-to-Run Control - and Equipment Performance Tracking faster than ever before. Both products are being demonstrated for the first time at SEMICON West, July 22-24, 2002, San Francisco at Brooks-PRI's booth #6176.
EES software enables companies to monitor tool performance and automatically adjust settings to maximize yield and throughput. APCbuilder provides a critical link between Brooks-PRI's equipment integration software and its EES software modules, thus eliminating the need for custom integration. Utilizing APCbuilder in conjunction with the EEScube hardware package, users of other equipment integration software packages can now draw data from process tools and feed it to the appropriate EES modules. The result: a simple, pre-packaged way to access process tool data in order to quickly implement EES.
According to Kevin Jackson, vice president and general manager of Brooks- PRI's Equipment Engineering Solutions group, the biggest impediment facing would-be implementers of EES has been an inability to collect data from process tools. In the past, such projects usually required complex, custom integration that exposed semiconductor manufacturers to risk that their factory operations could be affected. "Brooks-PRI has addressed this with a packaged data solution that plugs in to an existing equipment integration software," said Jackson. "This simple yet elegant approach will enable fabs to finally realize the long-promised benefits of EES."
Brooks-PRI is uniquely suited to help solve this challenge due to its vast experience not only in software but also in equipment integration. "Virtually every fab in the world is using Brooks-PRI products - semiconductor manufacturers know they can trust our data solutions," said Jackson. "Due to our experience and reputation, we believe we're in a terrific position to break through the EES bottleneck in fabs."
APCbuilder's consistent user interface and simple, visual graphics significantly reduce training and configuration costs and allow engineering groups to manage data collection, frequencies, amounts and destinations. APCbuilder can seamlessly integrate as a component at the equipment automation layer, or by inserting EEScube into the communication link between the automation layer and the tool, via a pass-through - avoiding disruption of the automation process. This flexible integration capability reduces switching costs associated with migration to new equipment automation tools for existing factories. The seamless integration also eliminates issues associated with data synchronization, prioritization and timing to increase overall equipment effectiveness.
APCbuilder is pre-integrated with Brooks-PRI's iAutomate solution, STATIONworks and FAbuilder - allowing it to be up and running within minutes of deployment, and delivering Run-to-Run Control, Fault Detection Classification and Equipment Performance Tracking capabilities within hours of installation.
About Brooks-PRI Automation, Inc.
Brooks-PRI (Nasdaq: BRKS - News) delivers total automation. The company's hardware, software and services can manage every wafer, reticle and data movement in the fab, helping semiconductor manufacturers accelerate time-to- market while reducing their risk. Brooks-PRI products are used in virtually every fab in the world. For information, visit brooks-pri.com.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The foregoing discussion contains forward-looking statements related to future results and speaks only of the Company's expectations as of the date of this press release. The forward-looking statements involve several known and unknown risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, the continued success of Brooks-PRI Automation, Inc. (the "Company") in the marketplace, the Company's dependence on the cyclical semiconductor industry, the highly competitive nature and rapid technological change that characterize the industries in which the Company competes, and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result, there can be no assurance that the Company's future results will not be materially different from those projected. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect any change in the Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
All trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
Investor Contact:
Mark Chung
Director of Investor Relations
Brooks-PRI Automation, Inc.
P: (978) 262-2459
Mark.chung@brooks-pri.com
Media Contact:
Rachel G. Mann
Account Executive
Gray & Rice Public Relations
P: (617) 367-0100 ext. 114
rgmann@gr2000.com
SOURCE: Brooks-PRI Automation, Inc. |
