UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) July 6, 2000
Commission File Number
0-25424
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SEMITOOL, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Montana 81-0384392
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
Semitool, Inc.
655 West Reserve Drive, Kalispell, Montana 59901
(406) 752-2107
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
Item 5. Other Events
See the following press release, dated July 6, 2000, announcing the Company's
Spectrum(TM) E product.
Contact:
Semitool, Inc.
Dana Scranton
Director Strategic Marketing
(406) 751-6360
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SPECTRUMTM E COMBINES SPRAY AND IMMERSION TECHNOLOGIES
WITH SURFACE-TENSION GRADIENT DRY
Enhanced Spectrum E Batch Processor Cleaning System from Semitool
Kalispell, MT - July 6, 2000 - Semitool, Inc. (Nasdaq: SMTL), a leading supplier
of wafer surface preparation and electrochemical deposition (ECD) systems, today
introduced the SpectrumTM E automated modular batch wafer cleaning system, which
can be configured in multiple spray/immersion combinations to satisfy unique and
demanding customer processing requirements. Designed for stripping, critical
cleaning, and etching applications in high volume manufacturing, the Spectrum E
features the incorporation of a surface-tension-gradient-dry capability, a plus
in applications requiring ultra-clean drying.
"The Spectrum E is an enhanced, automated batch wafer surface preparation
platform," said Dana Scranton, Director Strategic Marketing at Semitool,
"designed to provide high throughput, closed-loop machine and process control,
hybrid spray/immersion wafer handling capability, compact footprint, low cost of
ownership, and flexible process formats."
The tool's hybrid spray/immersion capability allows mix spray processes such as
HydrOzone(TM) and traditional immersion. The modular Spectrum E solution is
currently available to process 150mm and 200mm carriers, with 300mm capability
under development. This tool provides a common configuration platform throughout
the fab, from front-end-of-line (FEOL) to back-end-of-line (BEOL).
Occupying only 72 square feet of floor space, the Spectrum E builds on more than
two decades of experience in on-axis spray technology. The system features a
compact, 50-wafer carrier-less design and a "smart" architecture that allows the
tool to do preventative maintenance, statistical process and tool control, and
to optimize operation.
In addition, the Spectrum E includes a controlled mini-environment that provides
real-time control of flow and pressures to ensure clean operation. The tool will
be displayed in the Semitool booth #1726 at the upcoming SEMICON West
exhibition, held July 10-12 in San Francisco.
About Semitool, Inc.
Semitool is a worldwide leader in the design, development, manufacture, and
support of high performance wet chemical processing equipment for use in the
fabrication of semiconductor devices. Its primary families of tools include
electrochemical deposition systems for the plating of copper interconnects for
integrated circuits and other metals for various applications, and wafer surface
preparation systems for cleaning, stripping, and etching processes.
Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Kalispell, Montana, Semitool maintains
sales and support centers in the United States, Europe and Asia. The Company's
stock trades on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol SMTL.
Safe Harbor Statement
Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this news release
include forward-looking statements, including in particular those statements
relating to the development of the Spectrum E's capability to process 300mm
wafers. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to materially differ from those
projected, such as the risks associated with the development of 300mm wafer
processing capability for the Spectrum E. A further discussion of risk factors
is included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company assumes no
obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue
because of subsequent events.
Spectrum E and HydrOzone are trademarks of Semitool, Inc.
For more information on Semitool, Inc. via facsimile at no cost, simply dial
1-800-PRO-INFO (1-800-776-4636) and enter the company ticker symbol, SMTL, or
visit our web site at www. semitool.com.
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Semitool, Inc.
(Registrant)
July 6, 2000 by
/s/William A. Freeman
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Chief Financial Officer