Fremont, CA, September 14, 1999 - Asyst Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq NM: ASYT), a leading supplier of advanced manufacturing solutions for the semiconductor industry, today unveiled its new SMIF-LPT 2200XR robotic transfer system. The latest in its line of Standard Mechanical InterFace (SMIF) load port transfer (LPT) tools, the SMIF-LPT 2200XR combines the benefits of Asyst's market-leading SMIF-LPT 2200 system with the company's new speed-enhanced functionality and extended reliability improvements to provide customers with increased reliability and serviceability, and lower cost of ownership. LPT tools are used in semiconductor vacuum loadlock equipment and cluster tools. Initial shipments of the new SMIF-LPT 2200XR tool have already been made, with volume shipments expected to begin in October.

"The industry migration toward smaller design rules and more advanced manufacturing processes, coupled with increased competition in the semiconductor market, is driving semiconductor equipment manufacturers to reduce the cost of ownership of their tools," stated Dennis Riccio, senior vice president of global customer operations at Asyst. "SMIF isolation and automation products are used by device manufacturers to protect wafers throughout the entire manufacturing process to maintain high productivity and yield, which are both key indicators of cost of ownership."

Designed for handling 150 mm and 200 mm wafers, the SMIF-LPT 2200XR incorporates the same features and benefits of Asyst's standard LPT tools, including small footprint and innovative tool interface design, which allow customers to easily interchange loadport tools. Based on Asyst's proven SMIF-LPT 2200 platform¾already considered the industry standard for loadport tools¾the SMIF-LPT 2200XR has been re-engineered with the company's proprietary speed-enhanced functionality and extended reliability improvements.

Speed-enhanced features incorporated in the SMIF-LPT 2200XR encompass a set of hardware and software upgrades that can reduce the tool's cycle time by up to 50 percent. These include two accelerated cassette transfer speeds in addition to the standard motion speed available on all Asyst LPT tools, and a new feature that combines the motion of the integral mini-environment and the cassette transfer mechanism. Additional integration-dependent options are available to further reduce tool cycle time.

Driven by Asyst's commitment to continuous improvement, the SMIF-LPT 2200XR has also been significantly improved from a reliability and robustness perspective and features a number of enhancements-most notedly, an improved drive system. Combined, these enhancements more than double the recommended periodic maintenance interval for the system.

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:
Asyst Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of advanced technologies designed to protect and enhance customers' valued assets throughout all phases of the manufacturing process. The company's comprehensive solutions set includes 200 and 300 mm product families that deliver state-of-the-art isolation, material management, robotics and software needed to ensure seamless factory automation in the most advanced fabs worldwide. Leveraging its value assurance technologies, Asyst offers OEMs the ability to speed time to market and reduce development costs, and chipmakers the ability to achieve greater fab profitability and productivity.