Aquest Systems Expands Company Presence in Taiwan and Korea With Multiple System...

Aquest Systems Expands Company Presence in Taiwan and Korea With Multiple
System Orders
FabEX(TM) AMHS Enables Productivity and Profitability Improvements for IC
Manufacturers Worldwide

SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- 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(TM) 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.
These new orders follow on the heels of Aquest's introduction of its
No-Wait-Productivity(SM) 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.
The 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."
About FabEX AMHS
FabEX AMHS is an optimized, No-Wait-AMHS(SM) that brings Aquest's
No-Wait-Manufacturing(SM) 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.
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 hwww.aquestsystems.com.
No-Wait-Manufacturing, No-Wait-Productivity, and No-Wait-AMHS are service
marks of Aquest Systems.
FabEX is a trademark of Aquest Systems.
SOURCE Aquest Systems

Carol Higgins of Aquest Systems, +1-408-530-2503, chiggins@aquestsystems.com;
or Kelly Picasso of MCA, +1-650-968-8900, ext. 127, kpicasso@mcapr.com, for
Aquest Systems