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SCHARDING,
Austria--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 2, 2004--EV Group (EVG),
a leading manufacturer of nanoimprinting, MEMS and
semiconductor wafer-processing equipment, said today
that it has signed an agreement with Komag Inc. to
develop, license and sell the world's first high-volume
nanoimprint lithography (NIL) application for mass
data storage.
Based in San Jose, Calif., Komag is a leading independent
supplier of thin-film disks, the primary high-capacity
storage medium for digital data in computers and consumer
appliances. The company pioneered the development
of a proof-of-principle discrete track recording (DTR)
patterned magnetic disk, a technology that utilizes
NIL. DTR disks feature a cost-effective means of magnetically
isolating individual data tracks. They are expected
to result in significant advances in disk capacities
beyond 160 GB per disk for both standard longitudinal
magnetic recording (LMR) media and Komag's proprietary
perpendicular magnetic recording media (PMR).
"Our companies
are sharing resources and expertise to develop and
apply EV Group's leadership in NIL and hot-embossing
capabilities for volume production of Komag's DTR-patterned
magnetic disks," said Dr. Peter Podesser, chief
executive officer of EV Group. "This development
also marks a milestone for nanoimprinting history
by implementing this technology in a first high-volume
application. This strengthens EV Group's leadership
position as equipment supplier for the emerging nanoimprinting
industry."
Under the agreement,
EV Group and Komag will jointly develop, license and
sell a high-volume production hot embosser for data
storage based on the new, fully automated EVG570PMI
hot embossing system. The EVG570PMI is a low cost
and flexible fabrication tool for the aligned double-side
imprinting of patterned media.
"By developing
a unique process technology with this high-throughput
and cost-effective manufacturing tool, Komag has once
again demonstrated technology leadership in the mass
data storage industry," said T.H. Tan, Komag's
Chief Executive Officer. "Komag has made it clear
that we plan to license DTR technology to other disk
manufacturers to ensure that its proven cost and performance
benefits reach a wide audience," said Mr. Tan.
"This development, license and sales agreement
with EV Group will facilitate dual-vendor sourcing
of disks for our customers, and bring DTR to the market
more quickly."
About Komag
Founded in 1983, Komag
is a leading independent supplier of thin-film disks,
the primary high-capacity storage medium for digital
data. Komag leverages the combination of its world-class
U.S. research and development center and Malaysian
manufacturing operations to produce disks that meet
the high-volume, stringent quality, low cost and demanding
technology needs of its customers. By enabling rapidly
improving storage density at ever lower cost per gigabyte,
Komag seeks to create extraordinary value for consumers
of computers, enterprise storage systems and electronic
appliances such as digital video recorders, game boxes
and consumer electronic storage systems.
For more information
about Komag, visit Komag's Internet home page at http://www.komag.com.
The Investors section of the website provides a variety
of financial and investor information, including an
investor presentation. To request an investor packet,
call Komag's Investor Relations at 408-576-2901.
About EV Group
Founded in 1980, EV
Group is a global supplier of wafer bonders, aligners,
photoresist coaters, cleaners and inspection systems
for semiconductor, MEMS and emerging nanotechnology
markets. EV Group holds the dominant share of the
market for wafer bonding equipment (especially SOI
bonding) and is a leader in lithography for advanced
packaging and nanotechnology. The company's unique
Triple I approach (Invent - Innovate - Implement)
is supported by a vertical infrastructure, allowing
EV Group to respond quickly to new technology development,
apply the technology to manufacturing challenges and
expedite volume production. Headquartered in Scharding,
Austria, EV Group operates via a global customer support
network, with subsidiaries in Tempe, Arizona; Albany,
New York; Yokohama and Fukuoka, Japan; and Chung-Li,
Taiwan. For more information, visit www.EVGroup.com.
Contacts
EV Group
Dr. Ursula Deinhammer, + 43 77 12 53 11 40 09
U.Deinhammer@EVGroup.com
or
Loomis Group
Luz Rodriquez, + 33 (0) 1 58 18 59 30
rodriguezl@loomisgroup.com
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