Micronic Benefits from Display Manufacturing Boom: Asian Customer Orders Advanced TFT-LCD Photomask Writing Tool
Micronic Benefits from Display Manufacturing Boom: Asian Customer Orders Advanced TFT-LCD Photomask Writing Tool Taby, Sweden - June 30, 2004 - Micronic Laser Systems AB (Stockholmsborsen's Attract 40: MICR), today announced that the company has received an order for an LRS15000-TFT2 pattern generation tool for the production of advanced TFT-LCD photomasks from a customer based in Asia. The system is scheduled for shipment during the first half of 2005. "Micronic continues to demonstrate our commitment to display manufacturers throughout the world by delivering the capabilities required for next generation TFT-LCD photomask production," said Sven Lofquist, Micronic president and CEO. "The explosive demand for flat panel displays is driving strong production capacity expansion, which is having a positive effect on Micronic." New TFT-LCD fabs utilize larger substrates to improve productivity and enable larger display sizes. The Micronic LRS15000-TFT2 features a larger stage and is capable of writing photomasks as large as 1300 x 1500 mm to comply with the requirements for the current and next generation TFT-LCD photomasks. According to DisplaySearch, the TFT market is expected to grow at an average compound annual growth rate of 18 percent per year from 2003-2008. LCD-TV revenue is expected to increase from 7 percent of overall TFT revenue in 2003 to 33 percent in 2008, at which point LCD-TVs are expected to surpass LCD monitors as the largest TFT-LCD application. LCD (liquid crystal display) is the most common technology for flat panel displays and the basis for the fast growing high-definition television displays. There are two types of LCD, passive and active. The TFT-LCD is an active LCD providing better image quality and faster response than a passive LCD. The active LCDs have a thin film transistor (TFT) in each pixel. LCD-TV is a TV with a flat panel display that is rapidly replacing the traditional TV-monitor, which is based on the cathode ray tube technology (CRT). Company contact: Sven Lofquist President & CEO . Tel: +46 8 638 52 00 sven.lofquist@micronic.se Agency contact: Luz Rodriguez Loomis Group, Inc Tel: +33 1 58 18 59 30 rodriguezl@loomisgroup.com About Micronic Laser Systems AB Micronic Laser Systems is a Swedish high-tech company engaged in the development, manufacture and marketing of a series of extremely accurate laser pattern generators for the production of photomasks. The technology involved is known as microlithography. Micronic´s systems are used by the world´s leading electronics companies in the manufacture of television and computer displays, semiconductor circuits and semiconductor packaging components. Micronic is located in Taby, north of Stockholm and at present has subsidiaries in the United States, Japan and in Taiwan. Micronic maintains a web site at: http://www.micronic.se ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2004/06/30/20040630BIT20930/wkr0001.pdf Complete document