Amtech Systems Enters Into R&D Agreement for In-Line Solar Diffusion Furnace System

Partners Include Solland Solar and ECN (The Energy Research Centre
of The Netherlands)
TEMPE, Ariz.--(Business Wire)--Amtech Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASYS), a global supplier of
production and automation systems and related supplies for the
manufacture of solar cells, semiconductors, and silicon wafers, today
announced that its subsidiary, Tempress(R) Systems, Inc., has entered
into a research agreement to develop an in-line or conveyor diffusion
furnace system for the solar industry. The research collaboration team
consists of Tempress, Solland Solar (Solland), a leading European
solar cell producer, The Energy Research Centre of The Netherlands
(ECN), a leading solar research center in Europe where a market
leading PECVD product was developed, and a leading global chemical
company.

As part of this research collaboration, Tempress will provide its
solar diffusion expertise, along with its conveyor furnace
manufacturing experience, and is expected to retain worldwide
manufacturing and marketing rights to the new conveyor furnace. A
portion of the research and development costs are expected to be
reimbursed in the form of grants from the Dutch government, with the
first reimbursement payment having already been received.

J.S. Whang, President and Chief Executive Officer of Amtech
Systems, said, "We believe that expanding our product offerings to
include in-line diffusion furnace systems along with our proven batch
diffusion furnace systems will provide significant additional growth
opportunities for us within the rapidly growing solar market. With our
diffusion expertise and the expertise of our R&D partners, we expect
to bring to market an in-line diffusion furnace system that will
deliver excellent process results that the solar industry is looking
for. We are targeting introduction of our own in-line diffusion system
by calendar 2010."

About Amtech Systems, Inc.

Amtech Systems, Inc. manufactures capital equipment, including
silicon wafer handling automation, thermal semiconductor processing
equipment and related consumables used in fabricating solar cells and
semiconductor devices. Semiconductors, or semiconductor chips, are
fabricated on silicon wafer substrates, sliced from ingots, and are
part of the circuitry, or electronic components, of many products
including computers, telecommunications devices, automotive products,
consumer goods, and industrial automation and control systems. The
Company's semiconductor handling, thermal processing and consumable
products currently address the diffusion, oxidation and deposition
steps used in the fabrication of solar cells, semiconductors, MEMS and
the polishing of newly sliced silicon wafers.

About Solland Solar

Solland Solar is a Dutch-German manufacturer of solar cells. The
company produces standard solar cells and is expected to produce in
the future Back-contact Solar Cells. Solland makes use of innovative
production methods. Research focuses on solar cell cost reduction,
solar cell efficiency improvement and improvement of production
methods. The Solland website is www.sollandsolar.com.

About ECN

ECN is the largest research center in the field of energy in the
Netherlands. ECN's technology is used in the production of solar
cells, as well as other alternative energy sources. ECN takes the
results of basic research conducted at universities and develops
practical application of that knowledge and technology. ECN is located
near Petten, the Netherlands, and employs approximately 900 people.
The ECN website is www.ecn.nl.

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical
facts may be forward looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Litigation Reform Act. Such statements may use words such as
"proposed," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend,"
"predict," "project" and similar expressions as they relate to Amtech
Systems, Inc. or our management. When we make forward-looking
statements, we are basing them on our management's beliefs and
assumptions, using information currently available to us. Although we
believe that the expectations reflected in the forward looking
statements are reasonable, these forward-looking statements are
subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions including the risks
discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
If one or more of these risks materialize, or if our underlying
assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary materially
from what we projected. Any forward looking statements contained in
this press release reflect our current views with respect to future
events and are subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and
assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth
strategy and liquidity. We have no intention, and disclaim any
obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise.

Amtech Systems, Inc.
Bradley C. Anderson, 480-967-5146
Chief Financial Officer
or
MKR Group, Inc.
Todd Kehrli or Jim Byers, 323-468-2300
Investor Relations
asys@mkr-group.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008