AQUEST SYSTEMS EXPANDS COMPANY PRESENCE IN TAIWAN WITH MULTIPLE SYSTEM ORDERS

chip123

FabEX™ AMHS Enables Productivity and Profitability Improvements for IC Manufacturers Worldwide
  
; q) ^  n1 Y$ {- JSUNNYVALE, Calif., May 7, 2008—Aquest Systems, developer of the next generation of Automated Material Handling Systems (AMHS) for the global semiconductor industry, today announced the receipt of multiple orders from new customers for its FabEX™ AMHS solutions.  The new customers include a leading semiconductor foundry and a leading DRAM memory producer—expanding Aquest’s customer base in Taiwan and marking its first system orders in Korea.  These latest wins demonstrate the growing confidence among today’s foundries and chipmakers that Aquest can deliver the higher levels of fab productivity and profitability they need in today’s competitive market.
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These new orders follow on the heels of Aquest’s introduction of its No-Wait-ProductivitySM  Improvement (NPI) solution—now in volume production and used at Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Corporation’s (PSC) twin memory fabs, P1 and P2.  Demonstrated at PSC, a key element of NPI is that it does not require a fab to slow down or stop production for installation.  In fact, Aquest’s patented FabEX Transporter helps unburden the automation solutions previously installed in today’s IC fabs without software or mechanical modifications.  Interfacing directly with the existing stockers and overhead transport (OHT) vehicles, the FabEX Transporter allows chipmakers to immediately speed cycle time, improve equipment utilization and increase production capacity.   

( q$ w. p# p9 L9 I0 r1 q! K  mThe new orders from Taiwan and Korea will integrate Aquest’s FabEX Transporter with an already installed AMHS system from Japan’s Asyst-Shinko, a subsidiary of Asyst Technologies, and from Daifuku.  Both projects mark the start of a phased, multi-million-dollar plan by each of the customers to significantly improve the productivity of their existing fabs, utilizing the unique capability of Aquest’s FabEX Transporter to upgrade their current AMHS solutions.

Commenting on the new orders, Michael Brain, Aquest’s vice president of technology and marketing, stated, “With new customers in both Taiwan and Korea, it is apparent that there is growing interest in our technology from a number of the industry’s leading manufacturers.  As Taiwan and Korea are major hubs for production, these strategic additions to our growing customer roster solidify Aquest’s position at the forefront of the automation revolution that will significantly improve productivity at a fraction of the cost of already installed automated material handling systems.”

5 ~& C+ ?4 G, I/ y* TAbout FabEX AMHS
FabEX AMHS is an optimized, No-Wait-AMHSSM that brings Aquest’s No-Wait-ManufacturingSM vision to fruition.  With its patent-pending FabEX Transporter technology, which transports wafer-containers, called FOUPs, at high speeds (>3 meters/second), FabEX AMHS is significantly faster than conventional AMHS built from conveyors or overhead hoist vehicles.  It also has the ability to move around curves, while minimizing vibrations with minimal particle generation.  Finally, since FabEX AMHS does not need vehicles, it provides the high capacity afforded by conventional conveyor systems.  All of this, coupled with sophisticated internet-protocol (IP) technology-based controls and software, enable seamless integration into semiconductor fabs.
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About Aquest Systems
Founded in 2004, Aquest Systems is the pioneer of No-Wait-Manufacturing (NWM) automation technologies for the worldwide semiconductor industry.  A truly global company, Aquest employs a worldwide organization to efficiently leverage talent and resources in the United States, Japan, Taiwan and India.  The company is privately held and headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.  More information can be found at www.aquestsystems.com.