Amtech Announces $19 Million in New Solar Orders; Total Solar Orders in Fiscal 2010 Surpass $70 Million

TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Amtech Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASYS), a global supplier of production and automation systems and related supplies for the manufacture of solar cells, semiconductors, and silicon wafers, today announced that its solar subsidiary, Tempress Systems, Inc., has received approximately $19 million in solar orders for its diffusion processing systems from several new and existing customers in Asia. The orders are expected to ship in the second half of calendar 2010. Amtech's total solar orders to date in fiscal 2010, including these most recent orders, have surpassed $70 million. Amtech's fiscal 2010 began October 1, 2009.

J.S. Whang, President and Chief Executive Officer of Amtech, commented, "These latest orders are from both new and existing customers and demonstrate the growing solar manufacturing market in Asia and the significant presence that Tempress has developed in the region in a very short period of time through superior diffusion technology. I am very pleased that an increasing number of top tier solar cell manufacturers are recognizing our diffusion technology and our capability to support their high efficiency solar cell programs, as evidenced by the high level of orders received fiscal year-to-date. We believe the intense effort by our customers and the solar industry to increase cell efficiency will continue to drive demand for our diffusion technology and related products. We continue to see excellent quotation activity and remain focused on continued successful execution of our solar growth strategy."

About Amtech Systems, Inc.

Amtech Systems, Inc. manufactures capital equipment, including silicon wafer handling automation, thermal processing equipment and related consumables used in fabricating solar cells and semiconductor devices. Semiconductors, or semiconductor chips, are fabricated on silicon wafer substrates, sliced from ingots, and are part of the circuitry, or electronic components, of many products including solar cells, computers, telecommunications devices, automotive products, consumer goods, and industrial automation and control systems. The Company's wafer handling, thermal processing and consumable products currently address the diffusion, oxidation, deposition, PECVD, and PSG removal steps used in the fabrication of solar cells, semiconductors, MEMS and the polishing of newly sliced silicon wafers.

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Litigation Reform Act. Such statements may use words such as "proposed," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "predict," "project" and similar expressions as they relate to Amtech Systems, Inc. or our management. When we make forward-looking statements, we are basing them on our management's beliefs and assumptions, using information currently available to us. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward looking statements are reasonable, these forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions including the risks discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If one or more of these risks materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary materially from what we projected. Any forward looking statements contained in this press release reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We have no intention, and disclaim any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise.

    Source: Amtech Systems, Inc.

Released January 28, 2010