Asyst Technologies, Inc. announced that it is launching a 30-day expanded beta site program for its Asyst EIB(Equipment Information Bridge) 4.0 software product. Built around Microsoft’s .NET architecture, Asyst EIB 4.0 provides direct access to real-time data from manufacturing equipment, and is fully compliant with SEMI’s new Interface A (EDA) standard. Asyst’s expanded beta site program, scheduled for the month of February 2005, is a result of growing orders and customer requests for information for EIB 4.0 as well as for Asyst NexEDA(TM) software, indicating increased momentum for the new industry standard.
John McCallum, high tech industry manager for Microsoft Corporation, said, “Asyst was among the first to recognize the technical advantages of implementing Interface A using the Microsoft .NET architecture, which enables web-based applications and XML web services. We are working with Asyst and other partners to help facilitate the adoption of Interface A in the semiconductor industry. By building on the Microsoft platform, partners like Asyst are able to deliver mission-critical solutions to improve operational efficiency and resource utilization in the chip manufacturing process.”
“Asyst currently has more than 55% market share in equipment connectivity solutions, reflecting our ability to offer intelligent, user-oriented, standards-based products that deliver significant benefits to our customers,” said Jim Holliday, vice president of software product marketing for Asyst. “With Asyst EIB and Asyst NexEDA, we are positioned to extend that lead by offering a suite of products that will enable both chip manufacturers and equipment companies to swiftly embrace Interface A and effectively implement economically important analysis and automation applications. It has completed successful evaluations with multiple large semiconductor manufacturers for multiple fab projects that automate and streamline back-end processes and tool clusters.”
Asyst EIB technology can be implemented on-tool or off-tool, depending on the user’s needs, and gives fabs, discrete process manufacturers, and software application developers unprecedented access to in-process data directly from manufacturing equipment. This secure access is available to multiple clients, such as APC and SPC applications, from individual or multiple tools, and through multiple standard communication protocols. All Asyst Interface A solutions are fully compliant with the complete set of SEMI EDA requirements, including E121, E128, E120.1, E132.1, E125.1, and E134.1.
The one-month Expanded Beta Site Program permits approved sites to become familiar with EIB technology via in-house, hands-on usage. For more information on the EIB Beta program, contact Asyst’s Connectivity & Automation Software Solutions Group at [email protected]