SEZ Group wins new orders from the 300 mm market

The SEZ Group has received new orders worth a total of about CHF 15 million [about € 10 million] in the last three weeks for five Spin-Processors from various microchip producers in the US and Japan. The new Spin-Processors for preparing wafers with a diameter of 300 mm will be delivered during the current financial year. In view of the order situation, SEZ Group management is confident that sales for the current financial year will increase to CHF 290 million [€ 189 million] in line with its expectations.

SEZ is confident that its breakthrough proprietary Spin-Process technology for wet chemical surface preparation of wafers is already the established international industry standard in the promising new market for the production of 300 mm wafers. SEZ is thus strongly positioned to profit exceptionally from future growth in the semiconductor market and to achieve its long-term objectives.

Efficient management structure
The SEZ Group has fine-tuned its strategic and executive management so that it is well prepared for the future requirements of the market. The founders and chief executive officers Egon Putzi and Franz Sumnitsch will now be supported by a five-strong Executive Board that will work in close cooperation with the Board of Directors to define strategic objectives, manage the Group's operations and carry out central functions. The members of the Executive Board are Herwig Petschnig (chief operating officer), Willhelm Ladenhauf (chief technical officer), Kurt Lackenbucher (chief marketing officer and spokesman of the Executive Board), Sabine Kampitsch (chief financial officer) and Ernst Gaulhofer (chief process application officer).

About SEZ
The SEZ Group is a leading supplier of wet wafer surface preparation equipment to the global semiconductor manufacturing industry. SEZ maintains development, manufacturing, sales, marketing and service operations in Europe, Asia and North America. Founded in 1986 SEZ had net sales of CHF 195.2 million in 2000 (SWX Swiss Exchange: SEZN). SEZ also can be found on the world wide web at http://www.sez.com/