SPTS Starts on a High with Q4 2009 Orders up Nearly 150%

NEWPORT, Wales, March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- SPP Process Technology Systems Ltd. (SPTS), a subsidiary of Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd. (SPP), today announced bookings of nearly $35 million during the fourth quarter of 2009 from the entities acquired last year from Aviza, Inc.  SPTS was formed to merge Surface Technology Systems plc (STS), the single wafer process equipment subsidiary Aviza Technology Ltd. (ATL) and the Scotts Valley, CA based thermal products business of Aviza Technology, Inc. in October 2009.

The new orders included etch, CVD, and PVD single wafer tools for a variety of customers in the MEMS, TSV, and compound semiconductor industries booked by the Newport Wales based UK Division, as well as furnaces, upgrades, and an APCVD system booked by the newly formed Thermal Products Division. When combined with the orders received by the former STS business unit of SPTS, total fourth quarter bookings were approximately $50M, representing an almost 150% Quarter over Quarter increase in combined orders. The synergies of the acquisition were immediately apparent, with the Company receiving its first cross-over order of PVD equipment from a traditional STS customer.

"We are pleased with the initial positive customer response to our acquisition, which confirms the vision of SPP in forming SPTS", remarked William Johnson, President and CEO of SPTS.  "As we continue to focus on our customers in the MEMS, compound semiconductor, TSV/advanced packaging, data storage and power device industries, our goal is to provide both R&D and production solutions for today and tomorrow.  In addition, it is particularly gratifying to see the positive response from our thermal products customers, as our Scotts Valley team reconfirms the Thermal Products Division as the factory certified source for parts, upgrades, support and new thermal products systems with Watkins-Johnson, SVG, and Aviza lineage."

About SPP Process Technology Systems Ltd

SPP Process Technology Systems Ltd (SPTS) was formed by SPP to merge Surface Technology Systems plc, Aviza Technology Ltd., and certain Thermal Products business assets of Aviza Technology, Inc.  STS and ATL design, manufacture, sell and support advanced semiconductor capital equipment and process technologies for the global semiconductor industry and related markets.  These systems are used in a variety of segments, such as data storage, MEMS and nanotechnology, advanced 3-D packaging and power integrated circuits for communications.  The Thermal Products Division provides spare parts, upgrades, and new or remanufactured systems to existing customers of Watkins Johnson, SVG, and Aviza furnaces and APCVD systems, used primarily in the semiconductor industry.

SOURCE SPP Process Technology Systems