ESI Receives Multiple System Order from ProMOS Technologies for 9830HDE Link Processing Tool

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Electro Scientific Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESIO), a leading provider of world-class photonic and laser systems for micro-engineering applications, announced today that ProMOS Technologies has placed a multiple-system order for its Model 9830HDE. The 9830HDE features a high-throughput, 100-kHz laser and high-velocity stage, and is compatible with ProMOS’ existing installed base of ESI 9830 laser systems. ProMOS will employ the 9830HDE systems for volume production of its advanced 70-nm DRAM devices. Shipment of the 9830HDEs to ProMOS’ Taiwan fab was completed in the third quarter of ESI’s fiscal year 2008.

“We chose ESI’s Model 9830HDE systems over competitive offerings for several reasons,” explained the spokesman for the test engineering group, ProMOS. “Our current installed base of 9830 systems has maintained a consistent level of success and the 9830HDE’s high performance, reliability and superior cost-of-ownership meets the production needs of our most advanced memory devices. As a result, we will continue to look to ESI for next-generation solutions that enable our technology and product roadmaps.”

Martin Igarashi, director of semiconductor link processing at ESI, stated, “This multi-system order underscores our strong, long-term partnership with ProMOS. By utilizing the 9830HDE’s 100-kHz laser capability and high-velocity stage, ESI customers can achieve a very high, accurate energy delivery to smaller link geometries, which provides cost advantages by improving yields and throughput. As we continue to build on ESI’s proven legacy of technology excellence, we look forward to providing ProMOS and our global customer base with innovative solutions that enable their future success.”

The Model 9830HDE features a high-throughput, 100-kHz laser and high-velocity stage to enable significant improvement in throughput and cost of ownership. ESI’s Model 9830HDE is designed to boost yields for DRAMs, SRAMs, embedded memory devices and other laser-fuse applications on current semiconductor memory designs. Compatible with existing 9830 systems, the 9830HDE is ideally suited for high-volume manufacturing of 90-nm and 70-nm advanced-memory devices.

About ProMOS Technologies Inc.

ProMOS Technologies, Hsin-chu, Taiwan, is a full-blown memory solution provider and is renowned in the global DRAM industry for its outstanding performance in manufacturing excellence and technology advancement. The company manufactures high-performance and high-density commodity DRAM memory chips as well as pseudo-SRAM and lower-power SDRAM products. ProMOS is listed on Taiwan’s GreTai Securities Market. For more information, please visit www.promos.com.tw.

About ESI, Inc.

ESI is a pioneer and leading supplier of world-class photonics and laser systems that help its microelectronics customers achieve compelling yield and productivity gains. The company's industry-leading, application-specific products enhance electronic-device performance in three key sectors—semiconductors, components and electronic interconnect—by enabling precision fine-tuning of device microfeatures in high-volume manufacturing environments. Founded in 1944, ESI is headquartered in Portland, Ore. More information is available at www.esi.com.