Tokyo, Japan, November 30, 1999 - In an announcement here at the opening of the SEMICON Japan 99, Asyst Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq NM: ASYT) unveiled the ST-8400 SMART-Tag™ the latest addition to its market-leading SMART-Traveler System family of products for use in semiconductor manufacturing. The ST-8400 SMART-Tag enables chipmakers to more accurately identify wafer or reticle lots and communicate process information, which can reduce misprocessing and misrouting of work in process in their fabs. As a result, semiconductor manufacturers can gain an overall improvement in equipment efficiency and yield.

Dennis Riccio, Asyst's senior vice president of global customer operations said, "The ST-8400 SMART-Tag reflects the expertise gained from our extensive work with OEMs and chipmakers who have been using our SMART-Traveler products to manage valued production assets. We believe the new SMART-Tag, which is already shipping to several semiconductor producers in North America and Asia, will address customers' need to boost manufacturing productivity across the entire fab while reducing overall automation system implementation costs."

As semiconductor fabs become increasingly automated, device manufacturers are seeking more sophisticated auto ID technologies to ensure fast and accurate identification of work-in-process as it moves throughout the fab. The SMART-Tag is a small battery-operated microcomputer, which, when attached to SMIF-Pods and other wafer carriers, communicates lot identification and process information to the operator, process tool and host.

The ST-8400 SMART-Tag incorporates several unique new features that enable improved performance and greater flexibility at a lower overall cost of ownership. These include a larger graphic liquid crystal display that can display lot and process-specific information in multiple languages or using icons, real-time operator communication with the process tool and host computer, and support of 300 mm auto ID applications. Additionally, the ST-8400 SMART-Tag enables integration into OEM tools using SEMI SECS-I/II standards, thus ensuring simplified integration, lower system cost and robust performance.

ST-8400 SMART-Tags have a list price of $525. Asyst will continue to support its existing ST-8260 SMART-Tag product with its installed customer base. The new ST-8400 SMART-Tag will debut at the Asyst exhibit at SEMICON Japan, December 1-3, 1999, at the Makuhari Convention Center, booth 6-A801.

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 recent S-3 Registration Statement.

About Asyst:
Asyst Technologies, Inc. is the leading provider of Standard Mechanical Interface-based minienvironment and manufacturing automation systems that enable semiconductor manufacturers to protect customers' valued assets throughout the manufacturing process while increasing manufacturing productivity. Asyst offers a broad range of 200 mm and 300 mm products technologies that enable the Company to provide semiconductor manufacturers and Original Equipment Manufacturers automated manufacturing solutions for the transfer of wafers and information between the process equipment and the fab line.