Rehovoth, Israel, - July 18, 2002 - Nova Measuring Instruments, Ltd. (Nasdaq: NVMI), a leading supplier of integrated process control systems for the semiconductor industry, today announced the launch of its new Engineering Station, specifically developed as a compliment to Nova's Integrated systems and technologies.
With the creation of the Engineering Station, Nova hopes to ease the difficulties faced when introducing new integrated systems and technologies into the production process. The Engineering Station combines the factory interface of Brooks-PRI Automation, a global leader in semiconductor factory automation systems, software, and services, with any of Nova's market-leading integrated metrology equipment.
The Nova Engineering Stations enable the creation of recipes off-line, which can be transferred to Nova's integrated process control tools and act also as a 200/300 mm bridge tool. These Engineering Systems are stand-alone metrology tools that enable the evaluation of the Integrated Process Control technologies for Litho, Etch, CVD and Copper CMP. They are designed to enable fabs to keep pace with today's frontier process technologies, making it easier to create comprehensive integrated metrology (IM) and Advanced Process Control (APC) solutions, ultimately leading to enhanced manufacturing productivity and profitability.
Dr. Giora Dishon, President and CEO commented: "As the leader in the industry we are always looking for ways in which we can help our customers more quickly and efficiently introduce integrated metrology into production. These new Engineering Stations provide what we believe to be a highly cost effective solution, both for fast ramp to yield of new technologies in the introduction phase, and for the ongoing high volume manufacturing of the latest technology nodes."
Nova's complete line of systems will be displayed at SEMICON West 2002, Visit Nova's booth #2806, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, July 22-24, to learn more about the company's new IPC products and solutions.
About Nova:
Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. develops, designs and produces integrated process control systems in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. Nova provides a broad range of integrated process control solutions that link between different semiconductor processes and process equipment. The company's web site is www.nova.co.il.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements related to anticipated growth rates, manufacturing capacity and tax rate. Actual results may differ materially from those projected due to a number of risks, including changes in customer demands for our products, new product offerings from our competitors, changes in or an inability to execute our business strategy, unanticipated manufacturing or supply problems, or changes in tax requirements. Nova cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The matters discussed in this press release also involve risks and uncertainties summarized under the heading ``Risk Factors'' in Nova's Form F-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 9, 2000. These factors are updated from time to time through the filing of reports and registration statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.