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SEZ to Launch Global Wet Bench Business
VILLACH, Austria-October 15, 2001-In response to growing worldwide demand for wet wafer processing, the SEZ Group (SWX: SEZN) announced that it has broken ground on the expansion of its wet bench facility in Donaueschingen, Germany. The expansion is a key part of the company's worldwide wet bench strategy, as the new facility will enable the company to produce 300 mm wet bench equipment and extend the company's sales capabilities outside of Europe.
SEZ's dedicated wet bench division allows the company to offer a wider range of wet process applications than its competitors to address customer requirements. This capability has further extended the company's position as a leading supplier of wet wafer surface preparation equipment.
"This expansion is critical to elevating SEZ's wet bench division to a true global player," explained Kurt Lackenbucher, chief marketing officer of the SEZ Group. "We are looking to strengthen our market position in Europe and open up the U.S., Asia-Pacific and Japanese markets over the coming year. Recent orders from new key customers have supported the need for an expansion of the production facility which we expect to be operational in the second quarter of 2002."
The total addressable market worldwide for wet wafer processing tools will reach an estimated 2 billion USD in the year 2002 and will grow approximately 20 percent to 2.4 billion USD in 2003. Wet bench equipment makes up 80 percent of this market.
The larger facility will increase SEZ's wet bench production capacity to approximately USD 45 million (Euro 50 million/CHF 75 million) per year. SEZ has also made a significant investment in research and development to bring a 300 mm wet bench to market by the first quarter of 2002.
The 200 mm wet benches include all standard batch applications. The 300 mm application portfolio in the first tool generation will focus on pre-diffusion clean, RCA clean, nitride etch and pre-gate clean with the capability of spiking and diluted chemistries.
About SEZ
The SEZ Group is a leading supplier of wet wafer surface preparation equipment to the global semiconductor manufacturing industry. The company's breakthrough proprietary Spin-Processor technology forms the basis of a broad portfolio of single wafer backside and frontside wafer surface conditioning products for semiconductor chipmakers worldwide. Additionally, the company offers a complete range of wet bench equipment for batch processing. SEZ maintains development, manufacturing, sales, marketing and service operations in Europe, Asia and North America. Registered in Zurich, Switzerland, SEZ Holding AG is listed on the Swiss Exchange under the symbol (SWX: SEZN).
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