IRVINE, Calif., July 15, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Newport Corporation (Nasdaq:NEWP) today announced that at SEMICON West 2002, as part of its "Technology To Build On" program, it will be debuting some of its newest technologies and expanded product lines resulting from strategic investments made in recent years.
In particular, Newport will be exhibiting new products and technologies resulting from its acquisitions of Micro Robotics Systems Inc. (MRSI) and Kensington Laboratories, along with many of Newport's precision motion products, at the semiconductor industry's premier event.
At the "back-end" section of SEMICON West in San Jose from July 17-19, 2002, Newport will exhibit its MRSI advanced packaging products including flip-chip bonders, die bonders and underfill dispensing systems. These high accuracy, low cost of ownership systems meet the challenging demands of advanced packaging of semiconductor devices.
As SEMICON West moves to San Francisco for its "front-end" section from July 22-24, 2002, Newport will feature its Kensington Laboratories single and dual arm wafer handling robots, which utilize Kensington's patented 300mm edge grip end effectors. Other new products featured from Newport's Kensington Laboratories unit are edge-gripping wafer pre-aligners, automatic door openers, and vacuum end effectors with integrated optical sensors which enable the company's patented auto-teach technology.
Complementing these robotic products are Newport's expanded line of high-precision motion platforms for wafer positioning including its state of the art DynamYX(tm) and Mat350 sub-micron positioning systems, as well as its high-precision vibration isolation and optical systems designed for demanding semiconductor manufacturing and test applications.
"There is a clear need for new production solutions as the semiconductor equipment industry moves to smaller line widths, new materials such as copper interconnects, and 300-millimeter wafers," said Robert G. Deuster, president and chief executive officer. "Newport's technological expertise, derived from our successful acquisition program over the past few years as well as our internal research and development efforts, is forming the basis for our next-generation products and has further expanded our addressable markets. Newport now has enabling technologies that improve our customers' yields and throughput at various steps of both the front end and back end of the semiconductor manufacturing process."
Deuster noted that Newport continues to gain an important differentiating position technologically within the semiconductor equipment marketplace with the issuance during the past year of a number of new U.S. patents that extend the company's leadership in robotics and wafer handling technology.
Newport at SEMICON West
Newport's exhibits will be open July 17-19 at the San Jose Convention Center, at Booth 11035 in McEnery Hall, as well as July 22-24 at Moscone Convention Center, at Booth 436 in South Hall. More information on each of Newport's products that will be on exhibit at SEMICON West 2002 is available on Newport Corporation's Web site at www.newport.com.
About Newport Corporation
Newport Corporation is a leading global supplier of advanced technology products and systems to the semiconductor, communications, electronics and research markets. The company provides components and integrated subsystems to manufacturers of semiconductor processing equipment, advanced automated assembly and test systems to manufacturers of communications and electronics devices, and a broad array of high-precision components and instruments to commercial, academic and government customers worldwide. Newport's innovative solutions leverage its expertise in precision robotics and automation, sub-micron positioning systems, vibration isolation and optical subsystems to enhance the capabilities and productivity of its customers' manufacturing, engineering and research applications. Newport is part of the Standard & Poor's Midcap 400 Index and the Russell 2000 Index.
The statements in this news release made by Robert G. Deuster are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. As discussed in Newport's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, assumptions relating to the foregoing involve judgments with respect to various matters, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond the control of Newport. Although Newport believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove inaccurate and, therefore, there can be no assurance that the results contemplated in forward-looking statements will be realized. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking information included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by Newport or any other person that Newport's objectives or plans will be achieved. Newport undertakes no obligation to revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect such events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.