Amtech Appoints Dr. James Hwang to Board of Directors

Semiconductor and Solar Industry Veteran Brings Extensive Technology Expertise and Experience

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, today announced the appointment of Dr. James (Jeong Mo) Hwang, Ph.D., to its Board of Directors.

Dr. Hwang has more than 20 years of semiconductor and solar industry experience with career highlights in semiconductor device and process technologies, including crystalline silicon solar cell research and development. He has previously served in senior engineering positions with Westinghouse R&D Center and Texas Instruments, senior management positions with Simtek Corporation and Spansion, and executive management positions including VP with LG Semicon Company and Executive VP of R&D with Dongbu-Anam Semiconductor, both based in Korea. Dr. Hwang has authored and co-authored more than 30 journal and conference papers related to the semiconductor and solar cell areas. He received a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University.

J.S. Whang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Amtech, commented, "Dr. Hwang's extensive technology experience will be a valuable asset to our board as we continue to expand and enhance our solar product offerings and become increasingly technology focused. His tremendous knowledge of semiconductor device physics and process technologies will greatly benefit our ability to further adapt from semiconductor technology and to continue to grow and improve our solar capabilities, with the goal of helping our customers increase the efficiency of their solar cells."

About Amtech

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 and deposition 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 July 1, 2009