Micronic receives SEMI award for technological innovations within the semiconduct

Micronic receives SEMI award for technological innovations within the semiconductor industry Täby, Sweden September 28, 2001 Micronic Laser Systems AB (Stockholmsbörsen's Attract 40: MICR), a leading manufacturer of laser pattern generation equipment to the semiconductor and display industries, today announced that four of its scientists have been recognized by Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) for their breakthrough contributions to laser pattern generation technology. Micronic is the first European company to receive the North American SEMI award for advancement of semiconductor manufacturing technology. Anders Thurén, Hans Buhre, Tor Sandström and Gerhard Westerberg (deceased) were honored with SEMI Awards for their work in developing laser pattern generation technology, which is used today in the manufacture of semiconductors and flat panel displays (FPDs). The team began their work in 1971 and developed the first commercial laser writer sold to the IC photomask industry in 1976. The Micronic team was honored along with a team of scientists from Etec Systems, an Applied Materials Company. Laser pattern generation technology is used to delineate the hundreds of millions of micro-miniature circuit elements that compose semiconductors and FPDs. Further, laser pattern generation technology is used in the manufacture of essentially all FPDs and in nearly 60 percent of all wafers processed in the IC industry today. "We are extremely proud to have Micronic's technology pioneers recognized by SEMI for their technological innovations and contributions to the industry. The group's developments are integral to the technical advancements of our industry and we are honored to have them on our team," said Sven Löfquist, Micronic President and CEO. The SEMI Award for North America, which has been presented annually since 1979, honors individuals who have had significant technical contributions to the semiconductor industry. About Micronic Laser Systems AB Micronic Laser Systems AB 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 Täby, north of Stockholm and at present has subsidiaries in the United States and Japan and a service office in Taiwan. Micronic's net sales for 2000 amounted to MSEK 704 (MSEK 213 in 1999) and the company has 330 employees. Micronic maintains a web site at: http://www.micronic.se About SEMI Based in San Jose, Calif., SEMI is an international industry association serving more than 2,400 companies participating in the $65 billion semiconductor and flat panel display equipment and materials markets. SEMI maintains offices in Austin, Beijing, Boston, Brussels, Hsinchu, Moscow, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit SEMI on the Internet at http://www.semi.org/. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/09/28/20010928BIT00450/bit0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/09/28/20010928BIT00450/bit0001.pdf