Win Continues Asyst's Total Automation Market Leadership in Emerging China Market

FREMONT, Calif., March 12, 2003 - Asyst Technologies, Inc., (Nasdaq NM: ASYT), a leading provider of integrated automation solutions that maximize the productivity of semiconductor manufacturing, today announced that it has received a significant order from Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. (ASMC) of Shanghai, China. ASMC manufactures chips used across the IC application spectrum, providing high quality and cost-effective manufacturing solutions for customers.

Mr. Gao Zhou Miao, vice president of operations for ASMC, said, "ASMC is focused on being among the most efficient and competitive manufacturers of semiconductors. We selected Asyst because of their proven market share leadership in 200mm isolation and work-in-process management products and their strong record of support and service in China and throughout Asia."

Asyst is the world's leading supplier of 200mm wafer isolation (SMIF) and wafer-lot tracking technology, with an estimated market share in excess of 80% worldwide. In the foundry market, Asyst shipped its first SMIF products to a major Taiwanese foundry in 1989, and since that time essentially every major foundry in the world has adopted the company's technology. In early 2001, the company received its first order from China, for the first China fab established by a major North American microelectronics manufacturer. Asyst has repeated that success to become the leading provider of SMIF-based semiconductor manufacturing isolation automation products in China, having won essentially all of this business so far among China's three other semiconductor manufacturing customers.

About Asyst
Asyst Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated automation systems for the semiconductor manufacturing industry, which enable semiconductor manufacturers to increase their manufacturing productivity and protect their investment in silicon wafers during the manufacture of integrated circuits, or ICs. Encompassing isolation systems, work-in-process materials management, substrate-handling robotics, automated transport and loading systems, and connectivity automation software, Asyst’s modular, interoperable solutions allow chipmakers and original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, to select and employ the value-assured, hands-off manufacturing capabilities that best suit their needs. Asyst’s homepage is http://www.asyst.com

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
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: the volatility of semiconductor industry cycles, inability to manage cash flows, failure to respond to rapid demand shifts, dependence on a few significant customers, the transition of the industry from 200mm wafers to 300mm wafers, risks associated with the acceptance of new products and product capabilities, competition in the semiconductor equipment industry, failure to efficiently integrate acquired companies, failure to retain employees, and other factors more fully detailed in the company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2002, and Form 10-Q for the period ended Sept. 30, 2002, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT:

Investor Contact
John Swenson
Asyst Technologies, Inc.
(510) 661-5000
(510) 661-5166 (fax)
jswenson@asyst.com