Next-generation PULSE tool offers a low cost of ownership and a modular design for cost-effective upgrades
San Francisco, CA (July 11, 2006) -- Rudolph Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: RTEC), a worldwide leader of high-performance process control metrology, defect inspection, and data analysis systems for semiconductor manufacturing, today announced a multiple-unit sale of its recently-launched MetaPULSE-III™ Opaque Film Metrology Systems to a leading foundry in Taiwan. Rudolph's patented PULSE Technology™ has been adopted as the standard for opaque film process control and chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) dishing and erosion monitoring; the foundry has installed more than ten of the previous-generation MetaPULSE-II systems.
"This sale is an important milestone for us because it validates the concept of the new MetaPULSE-III," said Jana Clerico, Rudolph's opaque film product manager. "The MetaPULSE-III has been value engineered, reducing costs and increasing throughput, to significantly improve the cost of ownership (CoO) without sacrificing metrology capability. In addition, the MetaPULSE-III is more user friendly and the modular design allows customers to easily add metrology capacity as their production ramps. It is especially heartening that this validation comes from a valued customer that is currently using our PULSE Technology for their most advanced process control requirements".
The MetaPULSE-III provides the advanced metrology capabilities of the MetaPULSE-II tool with up to a 35 percent reduction in CoO. The new modular design enables field upgrades to the Turbo model that incorporates two PULSE metrology modules, providing a cost-effective method to double throughput while maintaining a small footprint. Other metrology technologies can also be added to adapt to changing metrology requirements.
Rudolph's PULSE Technology Systems use laser-induced sound waves to measure film thickness and other properties of metals and interlayer dielectrics. MetaPULSE-III includes the new Microsoft® Windows®-based Rudolph Studio™ operating software and the EASy™ Expert Application System for enhanced usability as well as offering improved pattern recognition for on-product wafer measurements.
About Rudolph Technologies, Inc.
Rudolph Technologies is a worldwide leader in the design, development, manufacture and support of high-performance process control metrology, defect inspection and data analysis systems used by semiconductor device manufacturers. Rudolph provides a full-fab solution through its families of proprietary products that provide critical yield-enhancing information, enabling microelectronic device manufacturers to drive down costs and time to market. The company has enhanced the competitiveness of its products in the marketplace by anticipating and addressing many emerging trends driving the semiconductor industry's growth. Rudolph's strategy for continued technological and market leadership includes aggressive research and development of complementary metrology and inspection solutions. Headquartered in Flanders, New Jersey, Rudolph supports its customers with a worldwide sales and service organization. Additional information can be found on the company's web site at www.rudolphtech.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
The press releases in this July 11, 2006 Press Kit contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). In some cases, you can identify those so-called "forward-looking statements" by words such as "may," "will," "would," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "feels," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," or "continue," or the negative of those words and other comparable words. Rudolph wishes to take advantage of the "safe harbor" provided for by the Act and cautions that actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of various factors, including risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Rudolph's control. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, the impact of the slowdown in the overall economy, the uncertainty of the current global political environment, the potential for terrorist attacks, the potential for business disruptions due to infectious diseases, changes in customer demands for our existing and new products, the timing, cancellation or delay of customer orders and shipments, the timing of revenue recognition of shipments, new product offerings from our competitors, changes in or an inability to execute Rudolph's business strategy, unanticipated manufacturing or supply problems and changes in tax rules. Rudolph cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. The matters discussed in this press release also involve risks and uncertainties as summarized in Rudolph's Form 10-K report for the year ended December 31, 2005 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which are available at http://www.sec.gov, the SEC's website, and at http://www.rudolphtech.com, the Rudolph website. While these factors may be updated from time to time through the filing of reports and registration statements with the SEC, Rudolph does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.
For more information, please contact:
Investors:
Steven R. Roth
973.448.4302
steven.roth@rudolphtech.com
Trade Press:
Virginia Becker
952.259.1647
virginia.becker@rudolphtech.com