Amtech Systems Announces Changes in Board of Directors

TEMPE, Ariz., April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Amtech Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASYS), a global supplier of production and automation systems and related supplies for the manufacture of semiconductors, solar cells and wafers, announced today the election of Alfred W. Giese to the Company's board of directors and the resignation of Lawrence D. Firestone from the board.

Mr. Giese is founder and senior partner of International Business Consultants and currently serves as acting President and General Manager of Sea Fare Foods Corp., a Kansas City, Missouri-based Company. From 1998 to 2001, he was the Vice President, Sales for Silicon Valley Group (SVG) with responsibility for both Asia and Europe. From 2001 to 2006, Mr. Giese was active in International Business Consultants with emphasis on sales and marketing for Aviza Technology Corporation, a semiconductor equipment manufacturer. He subsequently assembled and managed a sales and marketing team for Epion Corporation, a high technology equipment manufacturing company which was recently acquired by TEL (Tokyo Electron Ltd). Mr. Giese has a degree in International Business from the Industriehochschule in Essen, Germany.

"We are extremely pleased with the addition of Al Giese to our board and the tremendous sales and marketing expertise he brings to the Company," said J.S. Whang, President and Chief Executive Office of Amtech. "He also brings substantial international experience in the semiconductor industry and we expect him to make a significant contribution as we execute our near term and long term growth strategies."

"We would also like to express sincere thanks to Larry for his counsel and guidance while serving on the Board and for his assistance during an important period of growth for Amtech. We especially appreciate his help during the preparation and execution of our recent successful secondary public offering," Mr. Whang concluded.

Mr. Firestone's duties as audit committee chairman will be assumed by Director Michael Garnreiter. Michael Garnreiter is a CPA and was a senior audit partner of Arthur Andersen LLP where he served for nearly 28 years before retiring. He is currently a managing member of Rising Sun Restaurant Group LLC and was previously CFO of Main Street Restaurant Group, a publicly traded restaurant operating company. In addition to Amtech Systems, Inc., Mr. Garnreiter serves on the audit committees of two publicly traded companies, Knight Transportation Company, where he serves as chairman, and Taser International.

About Amtech Systems, Inc.

Amtech Systems, Inc. manufactures capital equipment, including silicon wafer handling automation, thermal semiconductor processing equipment and related consumables used in fabricating semiconductor devices and solar cells. 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 computers, telecommunications devices, automotive products, consumer goods, and industrial automation and control systems. The Company's semiconductor handling, thermal processing and consumable products currently address the polishing of newly sliced silicon wafers and reclaimed test wafers and the oxidation and deposition steps used in the fabrication of semiconductors, MEMS and solar cells.

SOURCE Amtech Systems, Inc.

Released April 16, 2007