MILPITAS, Calif., March 28, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nanometrics Incorporated (NASDAQ:NANO), a leading provider of advanced process control systems, today announced record 3D-NAND bookings totaling over $38 million for the first quarter of 2016. The record achieved was in aggregate bookings for the quarter as well as for three 3D-NAND customers individually. Strong follow-on orders by a key customer account for its next phase of 3D-NAND build-out drove a large portion of the overall record, while the announcement and rapid ramp of a 3D-NAND fab from the newest entrant to the sector, along with orders from a key memory customer for Nanometrics, each represented all-time high 3D-NAND bookings for these customer accounts.
The orders span the product portfolio with Atlas II+, IMPULSE, and Trajectory systems along with the NanoDiffract suite of analysis software and hardware to support optical critical dimension and thin film thickness measurements. The systems will be used to support all key and critical areas of 3D-NAND device manufacturing including control for the demanding tier-stack multilayer processes used for NAND memory cells including deposition, etch, clean, and CMP processes. Systems are expected to ship through mid-year 2016 principally to factories in Singapore, China, Korea, and Japan.
“We are very pleased to announce this record bookings quarter for our systems and solutions serving the important and growing 3D-NAND market,” commented Timothy Stultz, president and chief executive officer of Nanometrics. “Over the past few years, we have worked hard to establish significant tool-of-record positions among every leading semiconductor manufacturing company in the world, with particular success in enabling the latest generation of 3D-NAND processes. This announcement, reflecting record orders for our systems driven by strength across multiple companies, is an indicator of the capability of our systems and our team. Our customers have adopted our automated metrology, integrated metrology, and suite of software solutions to support the ramp of their 3D-NAND devices in 2016 as the industry continues its shift toward higher-endurance, lower-cost-per-bit memory solutions.”
About Nanometrics
Nanometrics is a leading provider of advanced, high-performance process control metrology and inspection systems used primarily in the fabrication of semiconductors and other solid-state devices, including sensors, optoelectronic devices, high-brightness LEDs, discretes and data storage components. Nanometrics’ automated and integrated metrology systems measure critical dimensions, device structures, topography and various thin film properties, including three-dimensional features and film thickness, as well as optical, electrical and material properties. The company’s process control solutions are deployed throughout the fabrication process, from front-end-of-line substrate manufacturing, to high-volume production of semiconductors and other devices, to advanced three-dimensional wafer-level packaging applications. Nanometrics’ systems enable advanced process control for device manufacturers, providing improved device yield at reduced manufacturing cycle time, supporting the accelerated product life cycles in the semiconductor and other advanced device markets. The company maintains its headquarters in Milpitas, California, with sales and service offices worldwide. Nanometrics is traded on NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol NANO. Nanometrics’ website is http://www.nanometrics.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release, including the timing of product shipments and the ramp of 3D-NAND devices in 2016, are forward-looking statements. Although Nanometrics believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from these expectations due to a variety of factors, including shifts in the timing of product deliveries, customer spending plans, and general economic conditions. For additional information and considerations regarding the risks faced by Nanometrics that could cause actual results to differ materially, see its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 26, 2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 2016, including under the caption “Risk Factors,” as well as other periodic reports filed with the SEC from time to time. Nanometrics disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement, except as required by law.
CONTACT: Investor Relations Contact: Claire McAdams Headgate Partners LLC 530.265.9899 [email protected] Company Contact: Kevin Heidrich Nanometrics 408.545.6000 [email protected]