Trikon Announces Two Omega Etch Systems Sold for Production to Zetex Semiconductors
16 Juni 2005 - 12:55AM
PR Newswire (US)
Trikon Announces Two Omega Etch Systems Sold for Production to
Zetex Semiconductors NEWPORT, Wales, June 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/
-- Trikon Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:TRKN), today announced the sale
of two Omega etchers to Zetex Semiconductors PLC, a leading
innovator in the manufacture of analog power devices for the
consumer, automotive and industrial electronics sectors. The sale
to Zetex includes an Omega 201 ICP to be used for silicon trench
etching and polysilicon etch-back processes and an Omega i2L fitted
with PERIE & Isopod process modules, to be used for a range of
dielectric etches including contact, via, hard-mask open and
planarisation. The Omega 201 ICP will add additional production
capacity to an equivalent Omega etcher that has already been
running these processes at Zetex for approximately one year. Zetex
also purchased the new Omega i2L etch platform with PERIE &
Isopod process modules. The i2L platform was launched in China
earlier this year and combines the process modules and robust
Windows XP control software from Trikon's proven fxP(TM) series
cluster tools with the wafer transport subsystem from Trikon's
proven 200 series cluster tool. By combining production proven
modules and sub-systems, the Omega i2L offers low cost processing
on a small footprint without the risks normally associated with the
introduction of a new system. "The Omega i2L was designed with
companies like Zetex in mind," said Dr. Dave Thomas, etch marketing
manager at Trikon. "Modern semiconductor manufacturing sites need
flexible tools that can support multiple applications, that have a
low purchase cost as well as a low operating cost and that have the
ability to better match capacity to current demand. High capacity
cluster tools have their place, such as in foundries and DRAM fabs,
but not every fab can justify the substantial cost and capacity
increase from conventional cluster tools with their multiple
modules all dedicated to the same process. The Omega i2L is the
ideal system for power and consumer IC companies." Tim Monaghan,
head of global supply at Zetex commented, "Our Trikon trench etcher
has run reliably since its installation in 2004. For our critical
trench process, the interferometric endpoint detection unit on the
Omega has shown considerable benefits in terms of improved device
yield and reduced scrap, significantly accelerating the ROI on the
system. When it came to adding capacity, it was a simple decision
to select another Omega 201. The selection for the dielectric etch
was more involved; we were looking for a single system that could
run seven different processes, replacing two tools in our fab.
Trikon showed that the Omega i2L had the flexibility we needed, and
continued to impress us with their commitment to our business and
to power applications in general." Monaghan of Zetex continued,
"This is part of our continuing investment in flexible wafer
processing capabilities to support our range of analog solutions.
Zetex's rapid growth over the last several years has been
underpinned by our distinctive range of IC technologies. The
flexible support that our relationship with suppliers such as
Trikon provides allows us to extend the internal portion of our
capacity at minimum risk." According to iSuppli, the power
management market grew 24 percent to $20 billion in 2004, and is
forecast to continue to grow at a compound annual growth rate of
12.7 percent through 2008. The strength of the power market is
fuelled by the broad usage in all electronic segments, plus the
rapid growth of portable devices. Trikon serves the power market
with its Omega etch and Sigma metal deposition systems. About Zetex
Semiconductors PLC Zetex Semiconductors designs and manufactures
high performance semiconductor solutions for analog signal
processing and the management of power in automotive,
communications, consumer and industrial electronics. Meeting the
demand for greater power economy, precision and speed in analog
circuit design, the broad Zetex product range comprises application
specific linear ICs and discrete semiconductor devices in multiple
package configurations. As a specialist in analog technology, Zetex
offers a diverse series of ICs for audio, video and linear
applications as well as motor control and DC-DC conversion. Its
discrete component range features trench MOSFETs, IntelliFET(TM)
smart MOSFETs and bipolar transistors. Headquartered near
Manchester in the UK, Zetex Semiconductors has manufacturing and
sales operations in Asia, Europe and the USA and is supported by
distributors in more than 45 countries.
(http://www.zetex.com/salesnetwork). Its parent company, Zetex plc,
is quoted on the official list of the London Stock Exchange
(listing symbol: ZTX). About Trikon Technologies Trikon
Technologies is a leading provider of wafer fabrication equipment
and services to the global semiconductor industry. Trikon develops
and manufactures advanced capital equipment for plasma etching and
chemical and physical vapor deposition (CVD and PVD) of thin films
for use in the production of semiconductor, MEMS and similar
devices. These are key components in most advanced electronic
products, such as telecommunication devices, consumer and
industrial electronics and computers. More information is available
at: http://www.trikon.com/. "Safe Harbor" Statement Under the
Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995 This news release
contains certain forward-looking statements, which include, without
limitation, statements in this new release and comments by Dr.
Thomas and Mr. Monaghan about Trikon's sales of its Omega line of
products and the needs of the semiconductor industry and statements
about the projected growth rates of the power management market.
The forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to
various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially, including, but not limited to, the potential for
orders to be cancelled prior to shipment; our ability to build and
ship the Omega i2L and the Omega 201, and the unpredictable and
cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and the power
management market. These factors are not intended to represent a
complete list of all risks and uncertainties inherent in the
Company's business and the market for power semiconductor products,
and should be read in conjunction with the more detailed cautionary
statements included in the Company's SEC reports, including,
without limitation, its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. We assume no
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
DATASOURCE: Trikon Technologies Inc. CONTACT: Katrina Bomont,
Marketing Publicity Manager of Trikon Technologies Inc., +44 (0)
1633 414030, or ; or media, Stew Chalmers of Positio,
+1-818-980-3762, or ; or U.S. Investor Relations, Kevin Kirkeby of
Global Consulting Group, +1-646-284-9416, or Web site:
http://www.trikon.com/
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