IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 28, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Newport Corporation (Nasdaq:NEWP) today announced that it has been issued its second U.S. patent in a series of patent applications that extend the company's leadership in next-generation technology in the fabrication of semiconductor equipment products.
Newport's U.S. Patent No. 6,275,748, covering improvements in 300 millimeter edge-grip robotic end effectors, includes technology that allows semiconductor equipment manufacturers to efficiently and reliably handle 300 millimeter wafers during fabrication and testing. The patent strengthens and deepens Newport's protection of its intellectual properties in this field and represents one of several relating to the technology of providing edge grip mechanisms for use in the semiconductor equipment industry.
The new system utilizes improved failsafe design features, which further minimize the potential for wafer mishandling, virtually eliminating wafer damage and particulate generation in the process of gripping and transferring the wafer from the cassette to the fabrication or metrology areas of the tools.
Newport's patented edge-grip technology:
-- Supports reliable, efficient, high throughput operational
performance;
-- Lowers initial manufacturing costs, increases "uptime" with fewer
repairs and lower maintenance; and
-- Promotes wafer safety, even in events of total power failure
during the manufacturing process.
"Newport is committed to providing systems designed to improve yields, increase throughput and lower our customers' total cost of ownership," said Robert G. Deuster, chairman and chief executive officer. "This patent is another example of the advanced automation technologies added to our portfolio through the merger with Kensington Laboratories."
Newport's leadership position in supplying advanced automation technology to semiconductor equipment manufacturers is also supported by several other patent applications that are pending for related technologies.
"This invention continues to build on our broad range of technologies used to enable semiconductor equipment manufacturers to increase their system yields by minimizing the potential for wafer mishandling damage and eliminating back side contamination problems," said Paul Bacchi, co-inventor and general manager of Newport's operations in Richmond, California. "The importance of this technology becomes more critical as the industry moves toward sub 0.15 micrometer features and larger diameter 300 millimeter wafers."
Newport Corporation is a global leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of high-precision components, instruments and integrated systems to the fiber optic communications, semiconductor equipment, aerospace, research and industrial metrology markets. The company's innovative products are designed to enhance productivity and capabilities in test and measurement and automated assembly for precision manufacturing, engineering and research applications. Customers include Fortune 500 corporations, technology companies and research laboratories in commercial, academic and government sectors worldwide. Newport is part of the Russell 1000 Index and on March 1, 2001, was added to Standard & Poor's Midcap 400 Index.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "could," "estimate" or "continue" or the negative or other variations thereof or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. As discussed in Newport's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2000, and its subsequent Securities and Exchange Commission reports, assumptions relating to the foregoing involve judgments and risks with respect to, among other things, future economic conditions, the ability of the company to obtain patents on its technology, competitive and market conditions, including those in Europe and Asia and those related to its strategic markets, whether its products, particularly those targeting the company's strategic markets, will continue to achieve customer acceptance, the risks of power interruptions and electricity rate increases and future business decisions, 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 events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.