PRI Automation To Support Flagship Software Product On Compaq's Future Itanium(TM)-Based OpenVMS(TM) Platform
Long-term strategic decision to use industry-standard technology platform expected to provide virtually nonstop manufacturing operations for PRI's semiconductor customer base
BILLERICA, Mass. - September 21, 2001 - PRI Automation, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRIA, TSE:PRJ), a global leader in advanced automation systems, software and services for the semiconductor industry, has announced its intention to continue use of Compaq Computer Corporation's OpenVMS(TM) platform. PRI will migrate its industry-leading and award-winning PROMIS(TM) manufacturing execution system (MES) software product to future Compaq Itanium(TM)-based OpenVMS systems. PROMIS, the industry's most mature and feature-rich MES software platform, is central to PRI Automation's P300(TM) factory management integrated software solution that provides a complete CIM system for semiconductor and integrated circuit manufacturers.
"We will support Compaq's OpenVMS platform into the foreseeable future and in fact have several important updates that we will be announcing soon that will continue to add value to the PROMIS product set as semiconductor manufacturing transitions to 300mm wafers," said Jim Golden, vice president, Factory Management Software for PRI.
"OpenVMS is proven in manufacturing systems all over the world owing to its reliability, scalability and excellent performance," said Richard Vatcher, vice president of PRI's Software Division. "It will continue to allow the PROMIS dual machine and high availability modules to provide virtually non-stop manufacturing operations to our OpenVMS customer base. With Compaq's commitment to port OpenVMS to the Intel® Itanium processor family, this will ensure that PROMIS will be a viable solution for many more years."
PRI will be one of the first suppliers to receive Compaq's OpenVMS Itanium-based hardware to begin the port. Both Compaq and Intel have committed significant joint resources and technology in bringing Compaq operating system environments and applications portfolios to Itanium-based enterprise servers.
Mark Gorham, vice president of Compaq's OpenVMS Software Group said "Compaq considers PRI to be a leading supplier of OpenVMS manufacturing software for the semiconductor industry and we've had a long and valued relationship with them to bring FAB productivity solutions to our mutual customers. With PRI's PROMIS MES software and services, and Compaq's OpenVMS operating system, semiconductor manufacturers worldwide have realized 24x365 availability and scalability, enabling them to more effectively compete and win in today's aggressive markets. I believe that PRI Automation's decision to support OpenVMS on the Intel Itanium processor family platform, as well as the Compaq AlphaServer platform, gives customers the highest levels of investment protection as well as a clear roadmap well into the current decade and beyond."
About PRI Automation
PRI Automation, Inc., headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts, is a leading global supplier of advanced factory automation systems, software, and services that optimize the productivity of semiconductor and precision electronics manufacturers as well as OEM process tool manufacturers. PRI is the only company to provide a tightly integrated and flexible hardware and software solution that optimizes the flow of products, data, materials and resources throughout the production chain. The company has thousands of systems installed at approximately one hundred locations throughout the world. For more information, visit PRI online at www.pria.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This release includes forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements relating to the expected benefits of PRI Automation products. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include the manner in which the customer uses the products and integrates them with third-party components and the following additional factors: the downturn in the semiconductor capital equipment industry is harming our business; fluctuating demand for our products makes it difficult to manage our business efficiently; we have reduced our workforce in response to the industry downturn and reduced demand for our products and our smaller workforce may be inadequate to handle increased demand for our products; we may continue to experience delays and technical difficulties with new product introductions such as our TurboStocker product; 300mm technology, in which we have invested heavily, is being adopted more slowly than we expected and competition for early 300mm orders is intense; our lengthy sales cycle makes it difficult to anticipate sales; our operating results fluctuate significantly in response to a variety of factors; delay in our shipment of a single significant order could substantially decrease our sales for a period; the application of new accounting guidance under SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin number 101 will result in delayed recognition of revenues from our factory automation systems; we typically charge a fixed price for our factory automation systems and therefore, we are vulnerable to cost overruns; we have a limited number of customers, we do not have long-term purchase agreements with our customers, and the loss, cancellation or delay of an order by any of these customers could harm our business; we must continually improve our technology and develop new products to remain competitive; demand for less expensive semiconductor is increasing pressure to reduce our prices; industry consolidation and outsourcing could reduce the number of available customers; our operations outside North America expose us to special risks of doing business internationally; our investments in the Asia-Pacific market may not be successful; we face significant competition from other automation companies; future acquisitions may disrupt our operations; we are increasingly dependent on subcontractors and one or a few suppliers of certain components, subassemblies and manufacturing processes; the failure of our key suppliers to deliver components on time could harm our business; we depend on our executive officers and other key personnel; our software products may contain defects that could result in claims and harm our business; we may be unable to protect our proprietary technology; others might claim that we infringe their technology; rising energy costs may increase our operating expenses; we are subject to pending class action securities litigation that could be costly to defend, divert the attention of our management and, if determined adversely to us, seriously harm our business; and other factors identified in our registration statement on Form S-3, file number 333-60180, filed with the SEC on May 3, 2001. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements included in this release.