Competitive Win Includes First 300mm Implementation of FasTrack™ CFT Technology

FREMONT, Calif.—July 8, 2003—Asyst Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASYT) announced today it has won a multi-million dollar order to provide its 300mm automated material handling system (AMHS) to UMCi, a Singapore-based 300mm joint venture fab between United Microelectronics Corp. (NYSE: UMC), Infineon Technologies, AG (NYSE: IFX), and the Singapore Economic Development Board’s investment arm. The installation is expected to be the first to include both high-performance Asyst- Shinko AMHS technology and Asyst’s innovative FasTrack continuous flow technology.

“UMCi will be a next-generation fab offering world-class efficiency and wafer cycle times, which made the choice of an AMHS supplier a critical, strategic decision,” said Chris Chi, president of UMCi. “We selected Asyst because Asyst-Shinko offers a novel, high-performance 300mm AMHS solution and FasTrack offers the flexibility to unify intrabay with interbay transport systems, which allows equipmentto- equipment delivery capability. We defined this type of automation as a necessary feature to implement into the industry’s second generation of 300mm fabs such as UMCi."

Steve Schwartz, chairman and CEO of Asyst, said, “UMCi and Infineon are pioneers of 300mm, and their decision to choose Asyst for their AMHS solution is a strong endorsement of our technology. It validates Asyst-Shinko’s clear market leadership in 300mm AMHS, the appeal of our revolutionary FasTrack technology, and the ability of Asyst and Asyst-Shinko to integrate our sales and solutions toward the common goal of increasing 300mm market share.”

Asyst-Shinko is the world leader in 300mm AMHS, having won 8 of the world’s 14 300mm production fabs. Asyst’s FasTrack AMHS is based on Continuous Flow Technology (CFT) and unique tool-loading technology, called FastLoad. In certain high-throughput or high-traffic applications, FasTrack has demonstrated material delivery between tools four times faster than conventional vehicle-based technology.

About Asyst:
Asyst Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated automation solutions that enable semiconductor manufacturers to increase manufacturing productivity and protect investments in silicon wafers during the manufacture of integrated circuits, or ICs. The company offers a broad range of 200mm and 300mm solutions that enable the safe transfer of wafers and information between process equipment and the fab line throughout the IC fabrication process, while reducing IC damage caused by human, environmental, mechanical and chemical factors. 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

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 risk of orders being cancelled or shipment delayed, 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 10-K and 10-Q reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

Media Contact
Pamela Mah
Asyst Technologies, Inc.
510/661-5000
pmah@asyst.com