Fremont, CA, October 2, 1997 - Asyst Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASYT), the leading supplier of minienvironment and SMIF-based technology to the worldwide semiconductor industry, today announced it has been awarded a multimillion dollar, multiple-phase contract from Newport Wafer-Fab Limited (NWL), of Wales, U.K. The ordered equipment, consisting of highly integrated Asyst-SMIF™ Systems, as well as the Asyst SMART-Traveler™ System (STS) for paperless tracking and management of semiconductor wafer lots during transport, processing and storage, is destined for NWL's newest facility, Fab 3-an 8-inch SMIF wafer-fab. The initial delivery phase is scheduled for December, 1997.

According to Hugh O'Reilly, Asyst's vice president European operations, NWL chose Asyst over the competition based on performance and service. "We have a very positive history with NWL that clearly demonstrates the quality and performance of our systems," Reilly noted. "In addition, our established European support infrastructure assured NWL of the level of service and support needed to implement their conversion to minienvironment and STS technology."

Newport Wafer-Fab Limited, a repeat Asyst customer, is Europe's largest pure wafer foundry--manufacturing sub-micron integrated circuits (ICs) for semiconductor manufacturers worldwide. Asyst's SMART-Traveler System will help provide the flexible and effective lot tracking for NWL's large mix of IC products.

John Elder, NWL's managing director, expects Asyst's SMIF systems and STS to contribute to a cost-effective, flexible wafer-fab. "SMIF enables the development of a comprehensive and flexible minienvironment-style fab, supporting varied customer IC requirements," commented Elder. "In addition, it increases safety by isolating fab operators from moving parts, while improving communication and reducing costs."

Asyst has the largest installed/experience base in the world for minienvironment and SMIF technology, with more than 46 fabs now employing this technology throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia. Asyst is also the world leader in OEM minienvironment applications. The company has integrated SMIF technology into more than 180 different types of semiconductor processing systems--and has strong working relationships with today's leading semiconductor equipment suppliers.

About Newport Wafer-Fab: Newport Wafer-Fab Limited (NWL) was formed on December 7, 1992, with the acquisition of the former Inmos manufacturing site in Newport, Wales, UK, from SGS-Thomson Microelectronics. The fab was originally constructed in 1982. NWL is a subsidiary of QPL International Holdings, Ltd., an electronic services-based group of companies headquartered in Hong Kong.

About Asyst
Asyst Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of material handling systems that help semiconductor manufacturers improve their integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing productivity. The company's Asyst-SMIF™ System combines state-of-the-art minienvironments with advanced robotics to create ultraclean processing environments that are both comprehensive and flexible. The SMART-Traveler™ System (STS) works in tandem with SMIF to eliminate misprocessing. Both Asyst-SMIF and its companion STS products are integral to seamless factory automation. Asyst Software, Inc., is dedicated to the development of software products for equipment communications and automated material handling, identification and tracking. Founded in 1984, Asyst Technologies, Inc. is headquartered in Fremont, CA, with facilities in Europe and the Far East. Asyst Software is located in San Jose, CA

About SMIF
SMIF stands for Standard Mechanical InterFace, the material handling approach that enables wafer transfer to and from sealed SMIF environments without exposure to cleanroom ambient conditions. SEMI standards exist for 150- and 200mm wafer sizes and are now being defined for 300mm.