WCQ Announces Further International Expansion, This Time into Taiwan

SAN FRANCISCO--(Business Wire)--
West Coast Quartz Corporation (WCQ), a privately held and globally-renowned
manufacturer of silicon crystal for the semiconductor and solar industries as
well as premier fabricator of precision quartz and silicon components for
semiconductor wafer process equipment, today announced the establishment of a
new wholly-owned subsidiary in Taiwan.

WCQ`s facility in Taiwan is located in Hsinchu and represents a million dollar
investment in equipment and facilities customization for fabrication of critical
components. This is the first of a multi-million dollar phased investment
project.

Heading up the Taiwan operation will be WCQ`s Mark Byrne, a distinguished
materials and methods professional in the semiconductor critical components
field for many years.

According to WCQ President Paul Maloney, the new facility replicates the
first-rate standards of the company`s California operation: "We are responding
not only to our global customers` need for low-cost-geography-manufacturing of
high-quality WCQ parts, but also to the Taiwan market`s stated preference for
local fabrication. Our vertical integration, especially in silicon crystal, plus
our strong Original Part Manufacturer (OPM) experience for all the major OEMs,
significantly enhances opportunities for us and for our customers."

The satellite Taiwan facility includes inter-linked implementation of WCQ`s
state-of-the-art management information systems, and will fabricate quartz and
silicon critical consumables strictly based on WCQ Headquarters
processes-of-record and proven, repeatable methods.

About WCQ

West Coast Quartz, established in 1981, is a globally recognized leader in mono-
and multi-crystalline silicon crystal growing as well as precision fabrication
of quartz and silicon critical consumable spares for semiconductor wafer process
equipment. Traditionally, the Company has focused on the semiconductor industry,
but in recent years has diversified into the solar, optical, and thin films
industries. Equipment and facilities expansions since 2006 and continuing, plus
vertical integration from raw material to Class 10 Clean Room-packaged finished
parts, have allowed WCQ to meaningfully expand its presence in all of its
markets and have formed the basis of strong company outperformance.

(WCQ and the WCQ logo are Registered Trademarks with the U.S. Department of
Commerce Patent and Trademark Office.)

WCQ
Dave Lopes, Executive Director of Operations, 510-249-2160 ext. 133
dave@wcq.com

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