FLANDERS, N.J., Dec. 19, 2000 (PRIMEZONE) -- Rudolph Technologies (Nasdaq:RTEC) today announced the opening of its new 8,000-square-foot training facility in Mount Arlington, N.J., adjacent to the Company's new Engineering Center. This new customer support, service, and technical training center, which is more than twice as large as the Company's former training facility in Ledgewood, N.J., features a new simulation center with a full complement of Rudolph products. Also included are larger classrooms to accommodate growing customer demand. Customer training sessions are already booked at the new facility through the second quarter of 2001.
The opening coincides with the launch of the Company's new customer support telephone hotline and extended customer support operation hours. Rudolph customers now will have access to live customer service support from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST Monday through Friday. The Company also provides after-hour and weekend paging of on-call service engineers.
In July 2000, Rudolph was voted number one in customer satisfaction among thin-film metrology suppliers by VLSI Research, Inc. for the sixth consecutive year. Customers worldwide who participated in the annual survey also placed Rudolph first among all vendors in the process diagnostic equipment category in the areas of process support, after-sales support, and overall commitment.
"We're very proud of Rudolph's record and reputation in the area of customer support," said Bob DiCrosta, Rudolph's Director of Customer Support. "Response to our support initiatives remains very positive, and we are excited about maintaining the highest caliber of commitment to our customers."
Rudolph Technologies is a worldwide leader in the design, development, manufacture and support of high-performance process control metrology systems used by semiconductor device manufacturers. The Company provides a full-fab solution through its families of proprietary systems for both transparent and opaque thin-film measurement. Rudolph's product development has successfully anticipated and addressed many emerging trends that are driving the semiconductor industry's growth. The Company's success in creating complementary metrology applications through aggressive research and development is key to Rudolph's strategy for continued technological and market leadership.
The matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements and as such involve risks and uncertainties summarized under the heading "Risk Factors" in Rudolph Technologies' Form 10K filed for the year ended December 31, 1999. These factors are updated from time to time through the filing of reports and registration statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Rudolph Technologies does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.