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To: Andrew Vance who wrote (14706)	7/9/1998 5:08:00 PM
From: Justa Werkenstiff	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 17305

Andrew: I took a good chunk of PLAB at the same price and you will be glad you did (if not already) when you read the following press release on the wires after the close <g>: Thursday July 9, 4:06 pm Eastern Time Company Press Release Photronics Supports Cypress Semiconductor's First 0.25 Micron Technology Product Photronics' Deep Sub-Micron Expertise Underscores the Value-Added Importance of Advanced Reticle Technology MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 9, 1998-- Photronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAB - news), the world's leading and fastest growing photomask supplier, announced today that the Company provided Cypress Semiconductor (NYSE:CY - news), an international supplier of high-performance integrated circuits, with the advanced reticle technology and support for the production of their first 0.25 micron technology product. The critical 4x deep ultra-violet photomask levels included the use of aggressive optical proximity correction (OPC) features and were produced using the MEBES 4500 electron beam lithography system and Photronics' proprietary high resolution UltraRes(tm) process. Devices were initially produced in Cypress Semiconductor's Technology Center last October in San Jose, California and then in their Fab 4 in Minnesota in February. John Hambidge, Photronics' Executive Vice President of Worldwide Operations commented, ''As Cypress' primary photomask supplier, we recognize the strategic importance of being able to provide them with the advanced reticle technology they required and have invested aggressively to do so. The high-end capabilities we continue to bring to the global semiconductor industry will be instrumental in enabling companies such as Cypress to retain a competitive advantage in the wafer fabrication technology used to manufacture next generation products. Combining our technological expertise with that of Cypress proved essential in meeting the challenge of fabricating these products.'' Reticle, process and design engineers from Cypress Semiconductor worked closely with their counterparts at Photronics to reduce photomask production cycle time and to improve the device's performance. Doug VanDenBroeke, Director of Research & Development for Photronics noted, ''Tightly controlled critical dimensions (CD) and the use of aggressive OPC features helped achieve the desired performance from these products. Our strategy and program of Design for Manufacturability(tm) was critical in modifying the application of OPC's to their device data, which lead to cycle time reduction and facilitated reticle inspection. The successful application of our proprietary high resolution UltraRes(tm) process and strong working relationship with Cypress Semiconductor's design team lead to significant yield improvements on the wafer.'' Tony Alvarez, Sr. Vice President of Research & Development of Cypress Semiconductor added: ''We are aggressively driving 0.25 micron process capability for our next generation products, thereby bringing greater value to our customers. Photronics' advanced reticle technology and production support proved instrumental in the rollout of our new process.'' Photronics is a leading worldwide manufacturer of photomasks. Photomasks are high precision quartz plates that contain microscopic images of electronic circuits. A key element in the manufacture of semiconductors, photomasks are used to transfer circuit patterns onto semiconductor wafers during the fabrication of integrated circuits. They are produced in accordance with circuit designs provided by customers at strategically located manufacturing facilities in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Texas, Germany, Korea, Singapore, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Additional information on the Company can be accessed at www.photronics.com. Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this news release that may be considered forward-looking statements may be subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those projected, including uncertainties in the market, pricing competition, procurement and manufacturing efficiencies, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in this release. Contact: Photronics Inc. Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Michael W. McCarthy, 203/775-9000 mccarthy@brk.photronics.com www.photronics.com More Quotes and News: Cypress Semiconductor Corp (NYSE:CY - news) Photronics Inc (Nasdaq:PLAB - news) Related News Categories: computers, semiconductors Help