Trikon Technologies Announces First Quarter 2000 Results

Record quarterly orders and backlog

Newport, Wales, UK. Trikon Technologies, Inc. (OTC-BB: TRKN) today reported results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2000, with net sales of $18.6 up 19 percent from $15.7 million for the fourth quarter of 1999, and an improvement of 114 percent from $8.7 million for the first quarter of 1999.

Net income of $1.9 million (or $0.15 per share) was recorded for the first quarter of 2000, up 64 percent from fourth quarter 1999 net income of $1.2 million (or $0.06 per share). The fourth quarter 1999 net income included a nonrecurring credit of $0.3 million. Excluding this item the improvement in net income quarter-on-quarter was 123% and compares to the first quarter 1999 net loss of $2.6 million (or a loss of $0.39 per share). The per-share amounts are stated on a fully diluted basis. Net margin of 10.2 per cent of revenues has improved from the 7.4 per cent achieved in the fourth quarter of 1999. Gross margin remained at 47 per cent of revenues compared to the prior quarter and an improvement on the 34 per cent of revenues in the first quarter of 1999.

Record product bookings in the first quarter ended March 31, 2000, were 2.45 times those in the prior quarter and generated a book-to-bill ratio for the quarter significantly greater than 2.0. Backlog at March 31, 2000, was also at record levels.

Nigel Wheeler, president and chief executive officer said: "Record bookings across our product range have driven backlog to a record level. The majority of orders have been from North America and Europe. However, Trikon is experiencing an improved level of activity in Asia, and we have received our first significant order from Taiwan since appointing an agent there earlier this year."

"Trikon s business continues to develop with strongly improving product sales and an improving balance sheet. Over 30% of orders for this year are from new accounts with the majority of these being from wireless and optoelectronic device makers where communications products demand is driving a large expansion in device production capacity."

Mr. Wheeler continued, "Trikon is probably unique in its broad range of CVD, PVD and plasma etch production tools for processing on both silicon and compound semiconductor wafers. The technologies are leading edge and with the recent introduction of the fxPÔ are available on both low cost and high throughput platforms to suit different customers requirements."

"In particular" continued Mr. Wheeler, "Trikon is at the forefront of developments in CVD low-k dielectrics with equipment in production depositing dielectric layers at lower k values than any other production implemented CVD solution. Whilst the low-k market is presently in its infancy we believe that Low-K Flowfill will generate significant revenues in 2001.

Mr. Wheeler continued, "Trikon s customers are principally manufacturing devices for non-pc applications. Whilst a substantial part of Trikon s business is supply memory manufacture, the largest part is used for the manufacture of devices used in everyday life such as smart cards, mobile phones, automobiles and consumer products. With a broad base to product demand in key growth areas and with a high proportion of new accounts, I believe Trikon is very well placed to grow rapidly throughout 2000 and 2001."

About Trikon Technologies

Trikon www.trikon.com is positioned at two technology frontiers in the equipment industry based on solid production experience earned over 30 years. Trikon offers enabling production equipment for the manufacture of Gigahertz silicon and broadband wireless and optoelectronics communications devices.

Trikon s patented, patent applied for and proprietary technologies are delivered on equipment platforms used worldwide for volume production. Trikon operates and manufactures at an 115,000sq.ft. facility featuring world-class facilities and ISO9000 (quality) and ISO1401 (environmental) registration.

Trikon has patents and patents pending on Flowfillâ and Low K Flowfill™ and related processes and continues to develop low-k chemistries and processes for advanced applications. Trikon provides a broad line of advanced manufacturing systems used for three of the major processing steps in the manufacture of a semiconductor device: chemical vapor deposition (CVD), physi-cal vapor deposition (PVD) and plasma etch. Products include: Low K Flowfill™ for advanced low-k insulator deposition, Sigma® fxP for advanced metal deposition including barrier layers and M0RI™ high-density plasma etchers.

"Safe Harbor" Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995: This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements relating to the continued strength in demand for semiconductor production equipment and the status of Trikon s products and their acceptance in the marketplace. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially, including, but not limited to, (1) that the semiconductor industry will experience conditions, such as changes in demand for various types of semiconductors, that will affect the demand for semiconductor production equipment and Trikon s products and that (2) Trikon will not adequately respond to technological developments impacting the semiconductor industry. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of all risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company s business, 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.

Trikon Media contact:
Carl Brancher
44 (0) 1633 414111 (UK)
carl.brancher@trikon.com

Trikon IR contact:
Alexander Fudukidis
Ludgate Communications
(212) 515-0246
fudukidi@ludgateny.com

Trikon PR contact:
Lon Margulies
Trikon Technologies
G.S. Schwartz & Co. Inc.
(212) 725-4500
lmargulies@schwartz.com