AZORES 6600 FlexPrinter™ SYSTEM ACCEPTED AT BINGHAMTON UNIVERISTY’S CAMM FOR CONTINUOUS WEB PHOTOLITHOGRAPHY PROCESSES

FlexPrinter Built Under Development Contract to USDC

SAN JOSE, Calif., December 17, 2007—The U.S. Display Consortium (USDC), a public/private partnership chartered with developing the flexible electronics and displays industry supply chain, today announced that the Azores Model 6600 FlexPrinter Ô has been accepted at the Center for Advanced Microelectronics Manufacturing (CAMM). CAMM is managed by the State University of New York at Binghamton, in partnership with Endicott Interconnect Technologies and Cornell University. The FlexPrinter was built under contract to the U.S. Display Consortium (USDC), which is working with its member companies and the CAMM to commercialize flexible display technologies and other flexible electronics products for military and commercial applications. The shipment was based on a contract that commissioned Azores to incorporate a web-based, or roll-to-roll, manufacturing capability on its existing step-and-repeat platform. The platform includes the company’s grid motor stage technology.

The Azores Model 6600 FlexPrinter photolithography system was chosen by the USDC to process displays in a flexible, continuous web format. This partnership represents Azores’ unique ability to customize design and engineering to fit unique FPD application requirements, such as those specified by the USDC. The $4M project was cost-shared between Azores and USDC using Army Research Laboratory funding that was appropriated to advance the capability of U.S. industry in the burgeoning flexible microelectronics market.

“The FlexPrinter will be the centerpiece of a prototype line to develop process methods for manufacturing electronic components on a roll-to-roll basis,” stated Dr. Bahgat Sammakia, Director of the CAMM. “We are excited to accept this tool from Azores and USDC and put it to use on behalf of our industrial partners and academic R&D community.”

Imaging performance evaluations show that the 6600 System provides accurate alignment compensation for processing multiple photolithography layers, accommodating for substrate distortion that is characteristic of flexible substrates. The system accommodates 8-inch (203.2 mm) to 18-inch (457.2 mm) wide substrates at thicknesses of 100-200 µm.

The Model 6600 provides advanced photolithography for applications that require resolution down to 4 µm. The fully integrated subsystems provide manufacturers with maximum performance and flexibility. They include: a high-fidelity projection lens and illumination system, precision grid motor stage, integrated web handling, automated substrate alignment system, automated reticle handling and storage system, and a sophisticated suite of metrology sensors that make the 6600 System one of the most precise stepper platforms available.

With its exceptional resolution and metrology capabilities, the 6600 System can also address the most demanding stitching applications, with an image field stitching error of <+1.0 µm.

Contacts:

Kay Mascoli
US Display Consortium
(408) 993-8111
kmascoli@usdc.org

Marie Labrie
MCA
(650) 968-8900
mlabrie@mcapr.com

About the U.S. Display Consortium
USDC is an industry-led public/private partnership providing a common platform for flat panel display and flexible electronics manufacturers and developers, integrators, and the supplier base. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., the consortium’s primary mission is to identify and manage R&D projects and share results with USDC member companies. The USDC also provides a communication channel among industry, government and the financial communities; sponsors forums to broaden the impact of technological developments; and educates consumers on the importance of emerging technology. More information about the USDC can be found at www.usdc.org and www.fpoelectronics.org

About Azores
Azores Corp designs and manufactures precision photolithography equipment for flat panel display, high density interconnect, and semiconductor industries. Azores provides training, maintenance, and world-class service programs to its customers, as well as local sales support throughout Europe, Asia, and The Americas. Azores Corp was founded in 1999, and is headquartered at 16 Jonspin Road, Wilmington, MA 01887; tel: (978) 253-6200; fax: (978) 658-6349; e-mail: sales@azorescorp.com; web: www.azorescorp.com.

The FlexPrinter ™ is a trademark of Azores Corp.

 About Binghamton University
Binghamton University is one of the four university centers of the State University of New York. Known for the excellence of its students, faculty, staff, and programs, Binghamton is one of the area’s largest employers and enrolls over 14,000 students in programs leading to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Its curriculum, founded in the liberal arts, has expanded to include selected professional and graduate programs, including those of the Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science. The campus hosts the Small Scale Systems Integration and Packaging Center, a New York State Center of Excellence, which has a nationwide reputation in electronics systems integration and packaging. For more information, visit www.binghamton.edu