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Technology Stocks : Asyst Technologies (ASYT) Good Value/Where is the Bottom? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ian@SI who wrote (632)	2/17/1998 9:41:00 AM
From: Paul Dieterich	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2313

Asyst Technologies Acquires Fluoroware's Automated Radio Frequency Identification Technology BusinessWire, Tuesday, February 17, 1998 at 09:32 FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 17, 1998--(Editorial Summary) Removing inefficiencies in managing the manufacturing flow is a fundamental issue in semiconductor manufacturing. This is a competitive and profitability issue for all semiconductor manufacturers. Consequently, there is a trend to automate the traditionally manual-intensive activities in the fab, such as WIP tracking, to help achieve this next level of manufacturing productivity and integrity. By adding RFID technology -- an optimized tracking solution at non-SMIF manufacturing facilities -- Asyst becomes the leading supplier offering automated WIP tracking for both SMIF and non-SMIF factories. With RF- and infrared-based technology, Asyst is also positioned to meet the automated WIP tracking needs for future 300 mm IC factories. Asyst Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASYT), the leading supplier of minienvironment and SMIF-based technology to the worldwide semiconductor industry, today announced it has reached an agreement with Fluoroware, Inc., the leading supplier of materials management solutions, to acquire Fluoroware's FluoroTrac(R) automated radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for automated work-in-progress (WIP) tracking in semiconductor factories. Under the terms of the agreement, Asyst will acquire all of FluoroTrac's intellectual property including RF-based ID/tracking solutions, inventory and installed-base opportunities from Fluoroware in consideration for approximately $3 million. FluoroTrac, an automated ID system, assigns each wafer carrier a unique ID number contained in a radio frequency tag embedded in each carrier. The tag is then automatically read at each process tool. This RF tag technology minimizes the misprocessing of wafer lots within the factory's manufacturing system by assuring the correct wafer lot is delivered to the proper tool. Each FluoroTrac system is designed from standard components, enabling system configuration to a customer's exact requirements. Additional benefits of the FluoroTrac system include: increased throughput; real-time tracking of container usage; reduced potential for contamination; and increased operator productivity.