Micronic Receives Substantial Dual System Order for an LRS-series Pattern Generation Tool and MMS15000 Mask Metrology
Micronic Receives Substantial Dual System Order for an LRS-series Pattern Generation Tool and MMS15000 Mask Metrology System Asian customer looks to Micronic's Photomask Manufacturing leadership in TFT-LCD technology expansion Taby, Sweden - March 23, 2004 - Micronic Laser Systems AB (Stockholmsbörsen's Attract 40: MICR), a leading manufacturer of laser pattern generation equipment to the display and semiconductor industries, today announced it has received an order for an LRS15000 advanced TFT-LCD photomask pattern generation tool and an MMS15000 mask metrology system from an Asian-based photomask manufacturer. The LRS15000 is designed for photomask production targeting LCD-TV applications through generation 7. The tools are expected to ship during the first half of 2005. Micronic and its customers are responding to unprecedented flat panel display (FPD) market growth, particularly in the LCD-TV segment. According to DisplaySearch (Austin, Texas, January 2004), the LCD-TV market today represents approximately nine percent of all TFT-LCDs, but is expected to grow more than 110 percent year-over-year through 2006 to more than $13 billion. "This order - the combination of LRS and MMS systems - firmly reflects Micronic's commitment to the market in providing complete display photomask pattern manufacturing solutions," said Sven Löfquist, president and CEO of Micronic Laser Systems AB. "Continuing to anticipate our customers' photomask manufacturing challenges in areas such as mask metrology, will help ensure Micronic's market leadership position." This LRS series marks the second system order for TFT-LCD applications sold during the first quarter of 2004, and the second MMS15000 order since its introduction in October 2003. 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 technologies, passive and active LCD. 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. 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 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. The company has 342 employees. 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/2004/03/23/20040323BIT20160/wkr0006.pdf Complete document