News | June 6, 2001

PRI Automation expands OEM Division manufacturing capacity

Source: PRI Automation Inc.
Growing customer demand for integrated front-ends leads to expansion of systems integration clean room manufacturing space.

PRI Automation Inc. (Nasdaq:PRIA), a global leader in advanced automation systems, software, and services to the semiconductor industry, today announced that it has expanded its Systems Integration Clean Room (SICR) manufacturing facility by 50% — up to 5,400 sq. ft. Located in Mountain View, CA, the expanded cleanroom will provide a 50% increase in manufacturing capacity for PRI's industry leading integrated front-end (IFE) system as well as provide additional capacity for vacuum systems manufacturing.

"We have seen significant growth in our integrated front-end business throughout the past year," said Robert de Neve, vice president and general manager of PRI Automation's OEM Division. "By working closely with our OEM customers over the past few years, we have been able to develop our integrated front-end into a highly reliable system that is easy to integrate with the tool. With the expansion of our manufacturing capability, we are ensuring that we will have the capacity to meet the expected growth for these systems as the industry continues its transition to 300mm manufacturing."

The facility now has 19 fully functional manufacturing bays, an increase from the 13 manufacturing bays of just three months ago. PRI will now be able to fulfill increased orders — 11 systems in the first three months of 2001 — while still maintaining the products' performance, reliability and the company's industry leading support services.

Since its completion in March 2001, the new facility has ramped up production to meet growing customer demand. This demand is due to recent design wins at leading North American semiconductor process control metrology OEMs.

About PRI Automation
PRI Automation, Inc., headquartered in Billerica, MA, is a leading global supplier of advanced factory automation systems, software, and services to semiconductor manufacturers and OEM equipment suppliers. PRI is the only company to provide a tightly integrated and flexible hardware and software solution that optimizes the flow of materials and information throughout the fab improving the productivity of semiconductor manufacturing. The company has thousands of systems installed at hundreds of locations throughout the world. For more information visit PRI online at www.pria.com.

Source: PRI Automation, Inc.

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