Fremont, CA, November 3, 1998 - Asyst Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASYT), the leading supplier of manufacturing automation and Standard Mechanical InterFace (SMIF) isolation to the semiconductor industry, has announced the formation of a new automation group to address the automated tool front-end market. The new group will be led by Ralph Patterson (53), who will serve as vice president of systems integration and report to Asyst's President and Chief Operating Officer Terry Moshier.

As the semiconductor manufacturing process increases in complexity and new process requirements such as copper and chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) emerge, fabs are incorporating greater levels of automation. A number of factors are driving the need for a complete integrated tool front-end system to manage the interactions and transactions between the process tool and the factory floor. These include process tool complexity, the need for ergonomic solutions, the emergence of new standards and more mainstream use of computer integrated manufacturing (CIM). Leveraging the company's existing core competencies in hardware and software, Asyst's strategy is to deliver complete fab/equipment interface solutions to OEMs and semiconductor manufacturers worldwide. This complete tool front-end solution includes robotics, minienvironments, software, auto identification and load port transfer interfaces.

Commenting on Asyst's new business focus, Moshier noted, "Asyst is the only company possessing all of the key technologies necessary to assemble a complete tool front-end solution for our OEM customers and IC manufacturers. Automated tool front-end systems are a natural opportunity for Asyst and represent significant market and growth potential." Patterson added, "Because automation requires such high levels of hardware and software capability, it is critical that these front-end interface components work together seamlessly. Asyst has core competencies in each of the areas comprising a tool front-end and will be able to offer OEMs a complete solution."

In heading the new business, Patterson will leverage his more than 20 years of high-technology management expertise-dominated by 16 years at Hewlett-Packard. While at Hewlett-Packard, he held positions including operations manager for Inkjet Media, R&D manager for the Inkjet Business Unit and director of the Computer Peripherals Laboratory. Other career highlights include serving as senior vice president of research and development for Read-Rite Corp., and president and chief executive officer of Headway Technologies, Inc., a start-up company focused on thin-film magneto-resistive heads for the disk drive industry. Patterson began his career as an engineer with Westinghouse, Inc. after completing his bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering, as well as a doctorate in micromagnetics, from Washington University (St. Louis, Mo).

Except for statements of historical fact, the statements in this press release are forward-looking. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These factors include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, semiconductor industry cycles, risks associated with the acceptance of new products and product capabilities and other factors more fully detailed in the Company's most recent Forms 10-K and 10-Q, and annual report to shareholders.

About Asyst:
The pioneer of the Standard Mechanical InterFace (SMIF), Asyst Technologies, Inc. is the leading provider of automated material handling systems and software critical to seamless factory automation in the most advanced fabs worldwide. Asyst's comprehensive solutions, which include industry-leading 200 mm and 300 mm product offerings, result in greater fab profitability and productivity. Hine Design Incorporated, a wholly owned subsidiary, designs and manufactures precision substrate handling equipment for vacuum, atmospheric and corrosive environments.