Tegal Receives Multiple Unit Order for 900 Series Etch Systems From Leading Telecommunications Company
Etch Company Positioned as Supplier-of-Choice for Exploding Wireless Opto-Telcom Markets and III-V Applications
Petaluma, CA. Tegal Corporation (NASDAQ NM: TGAL) today announced one of the leading North American suppliers of high-performance broadband networks has placed an order for seven Tegal 900 series plasma etch systems. The tools will be used for processing high performance "III-V materials," such as gallium arsenide (GaAs). III-V materials are used in the manufacture of HBT (heterojunction bipolar transistor) devices, which are extensively used in the booming wireless telecommunications market.
The 900 series systems will ship during the first half of this fiscal year and will double this customer s existing installed base. This order and previous orders of both the 900 and 6500 series tools will be used to increase capacity for the development and production of circuits for high-speed broadband networks.
"The fastest growing IC market from 1993-1999 was the telecommunications segment," said Jim McKibben, Tegal vice president of worldwide marketing and sales. "Analysts have predicted that the communications IC market will grow at a CAGR of more than 40% for the next five years. Our customers have successfully adopted the Tegal 900 and 6500 series etch systems to introduce new production applications and to further successes in research and development. This follow-on order from such a prominent network solution provider demonstrates the high regard leading companies in the telecommunications market hold for our patented etch technology and award winning customer service."
III-V materials are used to make the integrated circuitry for high-performance telephony, data communications, wireless telecommunication devices and wireline solutions for the Internet. Demand for wireless telecommunication appliances and services are expected to fuel explosive growth in demand for high bandwidth telecommunication devices. This growth is also serving to fuel the over 100 million dollar market for production-capable etch systems, particularly those manufactured by Tegal.
About Tegal Corporation
Tegal Corporation, headquartered in Petaluma, Calif., is a leading designer and manufacturer of plasma etch systems used in the production of integrated circuits (ICs), opto-telecom devices and other related microelectronics devices. Etching is a key process and must be repeated multiple times in the production of these devices. Tegal markets and services its systems in all major IC-producing regions of the world. More information is available on the Internet at www.tegal.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to industry conditions, economic conditions, acceptance of new technologies, the growth of the wireless market, as well as other risks set forth in the Company s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact:
Tegal Corporation
Jim McKibben, 707/763-5600
jmckibben@tegal.com
or
The Loomis Group, Inc.
Robert Prendiville, 415/882.9494
rob@loomisgroup.com
Tegal Corporation
Jim McKibben, 707/763-5600
jmckibben@tegal.com
or
The Loomis Group, Inc.
Robert Prendiville, 415/882.9494
rob@loomisgroup.com
E-mail: rob@loomisgroup.com
Web site: http://www.tegal.com
