Corporate | 13 September 2005 12:21
Aixtron AG:AIXTRON Atomic Level Solutions
Corporate-news transmitted by DGAP.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Another leading Taiwanese IC-manufacturer chooses Genus StrataGem 300mm ALD
process tools for advanced DRAM production
Aachen, Germany – September 13, 2005 – ProMOS Technologies (Hsin-chu Science
Park, Taiwan) has placed a purchase order agreement for a production ALD
system from Genus, Inc. (Sunnyvale, USA), a member of the AIXTRON Group of
Companies (FSE: AIX, ISIN DE0005066203; NASDAQ: AIXG). The system will
initially be used for the volume production of advanced memory devices using
90nm technology at the new ProMOS facility, Fab 3, located at Central Taiwan
Science Park.
“Genus was chosen for its excellent production and service record in the 300mm
DRAM marketplace. ProMOS also looked for a technology innovator that could
help us achieve our most advanced requirements rapidly. The tool was installed
quickly and has been performing flawlessly to date. The fact that Genus CVD
and ALD tools share the same platform and system design simplifies our
operations and service,” said Dr. Len Mei, senior vice president of ProMOS
Technologies.
The 300 mm ALD system will also be used for the production of advanced DRAM
MIM films for sub-70nm and beyond. This order is a further example of the
growing acceptance of Genus ALD process technology and demonstrates the
AIXTRON Group’s ability to supply the market with advanced technologies.
AIXTRON is currently focused on extending its silicon customer base in the
Taiwanese market.
The ALD market is of growing importance for developing and integrating new
materials to enable production solutions for semiconductor devices with
critical requirements. Seeking to accelerate the deployment of these material
solutions, new innovative AIXTRON ALD, AVD(R), and MOCVD deposition
technologies are expected to continue to evolve rapidly.
Genus, Inc. has also received a repeat order for its advanced 300mm CVD system
from ProMOS Technologies. This repeat order was received three months after
shipping the first system to this advanced 90nm DRAM site. The tool will
support the rapid production ramp and will be shipped in the third quarter of
this year.
Historically, AIXTRON and Genus, Inc. have developed very strong long-term
relationships with many customers in the Asian semiconductor community.
Through the acquisition of Genus, Inc., the AIXTRON Group has made a further
step forward in increasing the critical mass required to develop and support
multiple technologies in advanced semiconductor products (i.e.: CVD, AVD(R),
ALD) for the sub-90 nm nodes.
From a customer’s perspective, AIXTRON Taiwan’s subsidiary based in the Hsin-
chu Science Park is ideally located to deliver a tailored service and
increased focus on our customer’s individual requirements (including research
and development support).
During Semicon Taiwan (September 12-14, 2005), the AIXTRON Group will use the
opportunity to display the technical assets of their participating development
groups (booth# 584, 2238). Senior members of the management team will attend
the event to give insight into the combined company as well as exchange
valuable information of the industry and its challenges with the Taiwan
semiconductor community. Additional information on AIXTRON is available at
http://www.aixtron.com.
ProMOS Technologies, Hsin-chu, Taiwan is a vertically integrated memory
solution provider and is renowned in the global DRAM industry for its
outstanding performance in manufacturing excellence and technology
advancement. The company manufactures high-performance and high-density
commodity DRAM chips as well as pseudo-SRAM and low power SDRAM products.
ProMOS is listed on Taiwan GreTai Securities Market. For more information,
please visit http://www.promos.com.tw.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This news release may contain forward-looking statements about the business,
financial condition, results of operations and earnings outlook of AIXTRON
within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as
“may”,”will”,”expect”,”anticipate”contemplate”, “intend”, “plan”,
“believe”,”continue” and “estimate”, and variations of these words and similar
expressions, identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are
not guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks, uncertainties and
assumptions that are difficult to predict, and are based upon assumptions as
to future events that may not prove accurate. Therefore, actual outcomes and
results may differ materially from what is expressed herein. In any forward-
looking statement in which AIXTRON expresses an expectation or belief as to
future results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and
believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the
statement or expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished.
Actual operating results may differ materially from such forward-looking
statements and are subject to certain risks, including risks arising from:
actual customer orders received by AIXTRON; the extent to which chemical vapor
deposition, or CVD, technology is demanded by the market place; the timing of
final acceptance of products by customers; the financial climate and
accessibility of financing; general conditions in the thin film equipment
market and in the macro-economy; cancellations, rescheduling or delays in
product shipments; manufacturing capacity constraints; lengthy sales and
qualification cycles; difficulties in the production process; changes in
semiconductor industry growth; increased competition; exchange rate
fluctuations; availability of government funding; variability and availability
of interest rates; delays in developing and commercializing new products;
general economic conditions being less favorable than expected; and other
factors. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are
made as of the date hereof and AIXTRON does not assume any obligation to (and
expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update the reasons why actual
results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking
statements. Any reference to the Internet website of AIXTRON is not an
incorporation by reference of such information in this news release, and you
should not interpret such a reference as an incorporation by reference of such
information.
Additional Information:
For additional information about factors that could affect our future
financial and operating results, see our filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including the Registration Statement on Form F-4
(Regis.No. 333-122624) filed with the Commission on February 8, 2005 and
available at the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
End of announcement (c)DGAP 13.09.2005
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WKN: 506620; ISIN: DE0005066203; Index: TecDAX
Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin-
Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart
131221 Sep 05