Amtech Announces $10 Million in Solar Orders & Separate Additional Larger Order from One Existing Customer

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 recently received approximately $10 million in solar orders for its diffusion processing systems representing follow-on orders from two existing customers and orders for single R&D systems from two new customers. These orders are expected to ship within the first half of calendar 2010. In addition, Tempress also recently received a separate larger order for its solar diffusion systems from one existing customer, but is not able at this time to announce details of the order, including size and customer name, due to confidentiality restrictions. The $10 million in orders announced today do not include the larger order from one customer.

J.S. Whang, President and Chief Executive Officer of Amtech, commented, "We are pleased to receive follow-on orders from our excellent solar customer base along with new customer orders that expand our reach into research and development activities with our market-leading solar diffusion systems. In regards to the additional larger order, we are honoring the confidentiality request of our customer and will be able to provide further details of the transaction in due time. In the meantime, we continue to see excellent quotation activity and remain confident in our ability to execute 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 December 18, 2009