ASHLAND TO MANUFACTURE PRODUCT LINE FOR ASML
24 February 2003 - Ashland Inc

The agreement includes responsibility for sourcing and procurement of all materials, and assembly and testing of all toolsets. ASML Thermal, a business unit of ASML, offers large-batch and single-wafer thermal processing furnaces and atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition systems to major global semiconductor manufacturers. Toolsets include HTR, VTR, AVP/RVP 200mm, RVP 300mm and WJ APCVD processing systems.

Beginning immediately, ASML Thermal will outsource its supply chain management and manufacturing operations worldwide to a new Ashland Fab Services facility located in Gilbert, Ariz. ASML will continue to lead all R&D and new product design activities. It also will be solely responsible for worldwide sales and support for its products.

“With every generation, the complexity of producing integrated circuits with more functionality increases,” says Jeffrey Kowalski, president of ASML Thermal. “We’re committed to providing customers with leading edge technology that is production-ready at the earliest possible date. By outsourcing our manufacturing function to Ashland, ASML Thermal will be able to focus on technology innovation and speed-to-market while maintaining the highest product quality.”

Ashland currently serves as the factory authorized refurbisher of ASML Thermal VTR and APCVD processing systems. Ashland’s performance has met the quality and on-time standards required to expand the scope of the outsourcing relationship to include all new build tools currently released to market.

“One of our core business strategies has been to leverage Ashland’s intimate knowledge of the semiconductor manufacturing process to offer customers services such as tool refurbishing and contract manufacturing that make sense for them,” says Chuck Cook, vice president and general manager of Ashland Electronic Chemicals. “This agreement is a big step forward for our strategy.”

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