ASM International starts volume production 300MM furnaces test)


BILTHOVEN, The Netherlands, November 28, 2000 – ASM INTERNATIONAL N.V. (Nasdaq: ASMI and AEX: ASM) announced today that its subsidiary ASM Europe BV has signed a lease contract for a 4,500m2 assembly and test facility that will be fully dedicated to the production of its highly successful A412™ 300mm vertical furnace. When fully operational, the new facility will double ASM Europe’s capacity.

The Advance 400 Series™ vertical furnace family of ASM, consisting of the A400 for 200mm wafer processing and the A412 for 300mm wafer processing or, as a bridge tool, for combined 200mm and 300mm processing, has made important market share gains over the recent years. ASM believes that it is currently global market leader in 300mm vertical furnaces, a new generation tool used for deposition of a number of thin films in the manufacturing of semiconductors.

Dr. Han Westendorp, General Manager of ASM Europe, stated that “this new facility that is located in the Dutch town of Almere, approximately 35 kilometers from the main facility in Bilthoven, will allow us to significantly increase our output, whilst maintaining our high assembly and test standards. ASM Europe recently qualified under ISO 9001, and this will help us to ensure that the new facility will meet the same high quality level.”

Dr. Albert Hasper, global product manager of Advance 400 Series, added that: “This important step underlines the early commitment that ASM has made to the 300mm market. The additional capacity will enable us to fulfill our ambitious growth plans for this product line. For 2001, the growth will come equally from the 200mm wafer processing market and the 300mm market, with further expansion of the 300mm market in 2002, so this new facility fits that timing nicely.”

The new facility will be equipped with approximately 1,700m2 class 10,000 cleanroom space for assembly and test with a dedicated class 1,000 area for shipment preparation and packing. Total investment is expected to amount to € 10 million. The additional capacity will create approximately 150 new, mainly highly qualified work places. This brings the total number of employees of ASM Europe to approximately 750. The new facility is scheduled to start operating in the second quarter of 2001 and to become fully operational by the fourth quarter of that year. ASM is in the process of qualifying additional suppliers for the manufacturing of the mechanical and electrical components and modules that are to be assembled in its facilities in Bilthoven and Almere.


About ASM


ASM International is headquartered in Bilthoven, the Netherlands. ASM International’s subsidiaries design, develop, manufacture and market equipment and materials used to produce semiconductor devices. ASM International and its subsidiaries provide production solutions for the wafer processing, assembly and packaging segments through their facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia. ASM International’s common shares trade on NASDAQ National Market under the symbol “ASMI” and on the AEX Stock Exchange under the symbol “ASM”. More information on ASM can be found on its website at http://www.asm.com


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