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Politics : Formerly About Applied Materials -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Justa Werkenstiff who wrote (24365)	9/17/1998 12:28:00 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 70976

Thursday September 17, 6:59 am Eastern Time Company Press Release Align-Rite Places Repeat Order for Applied Materials' Reticle Inspection Systems New RT-8200 Systems Slated for Production Use on Align-Rite's Photomask Manufacturing Lines SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 17, 1998-- Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq/NMS:AMAT - news) has received a repeat order from Align-Rite International Inc. [Nasdaq:MASK - news] for Applied Materials' RT-8200 reticle inspection systems. The first system will be delivered in October 1998 to the company's Bridgend, Wales, manufacturing facility in the U.K., followed by an additional system in early 1999 to Align-Rite's Burbank, Calif., photomask facility. Both locations have a substantial installed base of earlier Applied Materials' RT-series systems. James MacDonald, chief executive officer of Align-Rite, said, ''We are focusing on moving to the forefront of photomask technology by acquiring the most advanced photomask manufacturing and inspection equipment to serve our worldwide customer base. ''Our growing installed base of RT-series systems offers an attractive combination of leading edge inspection technology with high productivity and reliability for day-to-day operation. We are relying on Applied Materials' comprehensive global service capabilities for outstanding product support wherever our RT-series systems are located.'' The RT-8200 system, introduced in August 1998, increased the previous model's throughput by a factor of two and reduced photomask inspection cost. The RT-8200 is designed to be used with all types of photomasks, including those utilizing Optical Proximity Correction (OPC) and Phase-Shift Mask (PSM) techniques, which are used in the semiconductor industry's most advanced fabs. RT-8200 systems have been ordered by customers worldwide for their most critical photomask inspection applications. Align-Rite International manufactures and markets quality photomasks and has grown to become the third largest independent manufacturer of photomasks in the United States and Europe. The company currently serves over 240 customers in 21 countries from three manufacturing facilities and seven customer service centers in the U.S. and Europe. Align-Rite is traded on the Nasdaq National Market System under the symbol ''MASK'' and its web site can be found at www.alignrite.com. Applied Materials is the leading supplier of wafer fabrication systems and services to the global semiconductor industry. Applied Materials is traded on the Nasdaq National Market System under the symbol ''AMAT.'' Applied Materials' web site is appliedmaterials.com. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------