TEXT-Nova Measuring gets order from China's top foundry

(The following was issued by Israel's Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. (NVMI.O) (NVMI.TA)):

March 3 - Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. (NASDAQ: NVMI), provider of leading edge stand-alone metrology and the market leader of integrated metrology solutions to the semiconductor process control market, announced a follow-on NovaScan stand-alone order from the largest foundry in China as part of a multimillion dollar deal to supply its stand-alone metrology, integrated metrology and NovaMARS application development solutions.

Nova is providing multiple units of its NovaScan Optical CD and shape profiling metrology solution together with its market leading modeling SW, the NovaMARS, for 2D and 3D modeling.

The first NovaScan tools were installed in 2007 and, according to the customer, the NovaScan stand-alone tool demonstrated better performance than competitors, including higher throughput.

The customer also noted Nova's excellent support. Both fabs will use a combination of stand-alone and integrated metrology solutions.

"We are proud to be chosen to supply our shape profiling metrology solution to this major foundry's second location," said Dov Farkash, VP of Sales for Nova. "As demonstrated at the customer's site, our system offers superior metrology performance and throughput, providing the most capable and cost effective solution in the market. Our ability to provide a solution combining both stand-alone and integrated metrology platforms and state-of-the-art modeling software, as well as superior customer support, creates a clear advantage for the customer. We believe that this major foundry, with its leading position, is setting the trend for China's semiconductor industry and we look forward to supporting them as they pursue further expansion plans in the future."