Cimetrix Provides Connectivity Solution to Semiconductor & Solar Cell Manufacturer
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – June 19, 2008 – Cimetrix announced today a secured design win for its CIMConnect product from centrotherm, a leading supplier of technology and production equipment for the semiconductor and solar cell industries. centrotherm selected CIMConnect for use on a number of tools, including horizontal and vertical furnaces for semiconductor production as well as PECVD and diffusion furnaces for solar cell production. centrotherm’s first implementation of the product was executed successfully within three weeks. This order and design win further strengthens Cimetrix’s position as the leader in connectivity software and solutions for the semiconductor and related industries.
CIMConnect is an object oriented software development kit for quickly developing host connectivity interfaces on manufacturing equipment. CIMConnect is specifically designed for easy and fast implementation of the SEMI SECS/GEM standards, but also allows customization of the protocol and message format. CIMConnect supports multiple host connections at the same time, allowing users to simultaneously support any legacy interfaces and communicate with more than one GEM host. The GEM interface is available to multiple hosts with a SECS-I or HSMS-SS connection.
centrotherm compared several connectivity solutions against a set of intelligent criteria and requirements, before selecting CIMConnect. Hans-Peter Jakob, head of software development for centrotherm, contributes Cimetrix’s design win to the length of time the product has been in the market and its widespread use on tools worldwide. "centrotherm chose CIMConnect primarily based on its robust functions well as the decreased integration time and developer learning curve necessary compared to other options considered," states Mr. Jakob. "Since the 300mm development kit builds on the 200mm one, upgrading a 200mm tool to 300mm is an easy, streamlined process."
"We are pleased to have centrotherm join our growing list of equipment supplier customers," adds Dave Faulkner, executive vice president of sales & marketing for Cimetrix. "The SECS/GEM standard has been widely used by the semiconductor industry for many years, maturing and growing into the best connectivity interface for automated control in today’s fabs. However, its generic and dynamic nature (Status Variables, Events, Reports, Alarms) makes it applicable to a wider range of industrial applications such as the photovoltaic (PV) market. Cimetrix has been working with industry committees and leading companies such as centrotherm to identify and address the specific needs of solar cell manufacturing."
About Cimetrix Incorporated:
Cimetrix designs, develops, markets, and supports factory automation and equipment control software for the global semiconductor, photovoltaic, LED, and other electronics industries. A leading participant in SEMI standards development, Cimetrix connectivity software allows for quick implementation of the SECS/GEM, PV2, GEM300, and Interface A standards.
The Company’s products can be found on virtually every tool type in nearly every semiconductor 300mm factory worldwide. The added value of Cimetrix passionate support and professional services creates the industry’s only complete software solution. Key products include:
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CIM300TM
Cimetrix is an active member of Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI), the International SEMATECH Manufacturing Initiative (ISMI) as well as the PV Group. For more information, please visit www.cimetrix.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
The matters discussed in this news release include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements about the Company’s prospects for future growth and results of operations are forward-looking statements. The comments made by the Company's senior management in regards to future revenue and results are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that may adversely affect expected results including but not limited to recover of the economic markets into which the Company sells products, increased capital expenditures by semiconductor chip manufacturers, market acceptance of the Company’s products, the timing and degree of adoption of Interface A by the semiconductor industry, the ability of the Company to control its costs associated with providing products and services, the mix between products and services (which generally have higher associated costs of revenue) provided by the Company, the competitive position of the Company and its products, which include CODE, CIMConnect, CIM300 and CIMPortal product families, the economic climate in the markets in which the Company’s products are sold, technological improvements, and other risks discussed more fully in filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Many of these factors are beyond the control of the Company. Reference is made to the Company's most recent filing on Form 10-K, which further details such risk factors.
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