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Technology Stocks : PRI Automation (PRIA) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ian@SI who wrote (1142)	4/24/2001 10:41:50 AM
From: Ian@SI	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1214

A little more on the Guardian sale. My guess would be IFX in Europe and TXN in the US... +++++++++++ MUNICH, Germany, April 24 /PRNewswire Interactive News Release/ -- PRI Automation, Inc., (Nasdaq: PRIA), a global leader in semiconductor factory automation systems, software, and services, announced today from the SEMICON Europa trade show, the first shipments of its new Guardian(TM) bare reticle stocker (BRS). Guardian was introduced last summer at the SEMICON West trade show and has undergone further development and extensive testing since then prior to first customer delivery. The units were shipped to two large semiconductor manufacturers, one in Europe and the other in the United States, and will be integrated into their lithography operations to provide enhanced reticle management and higher levels of reticle protection. "Manufacturers are looking for ways to improve the productivity of their lithography operations," said John Chrisos, vice president and general manager of PRI's Lithography Division. "The cost of reticle sets and the number of reticles manufacturers must keep in inventory are rising -- driven by increases in product mix and design complexity. As a result, customers are looking for innovative ways to better access and manage their reticle inventory while protecting reticles from damage, loss and contamination. Guardian's advanced design provides an effective and low-cost solution for storing and managing reticle inventories while giving customers the confidence that their reticles are protected." Guardian bare reticle stocker is a fully automated, high-density solution for storing five- and six-inch bare reticles. Guardian stores up to 1,632 bare reticles and supports SMIF, Canon, and Nikon reticle carriers. Storing reticles bare can save hundreds of thousands of dollars in unnecessary carrier costs. The patented "reticle vault" completely isolates the reticle in a Class 1 environment. All mechanical and electrical devices are located outside the reticle vault to ensure that reticles are isolated during storage and transfer. Guardian also enables litho managers to control access through password protection, and to track reticles entering or leaving the stocker. Guardian has a small footprint that saves expensive floor space and its two- sided service access make it easy to fit into existing fabs. Guardian integrates with PRI's TransNet(TM) reticle management software, allowing operators to control access to, and track reticles leaving or entering the system, so they always know where their reticles are. Guardian can also be integrated with PRI's AeroLoader(TM) overhead hoist transport system for automating reticle delivery directly to the stepper. PRI is exhibiting a variety of its factory automation hardware and software products, including the Guardian bare reticle stocker, in Booth B2.110 at SEMICON Europa. The show runs from April 24-26, 2001 in the New Munich Trade Fair Centre, Munich, Germany.