Irvine Optical - Wafer Process Control & Inspection Products

WELCOME TO IRVINE OPTICAL COMPANY

A Letter From The President

Welcome to Irvine Optical Company [IOC]. We could look back at our successful history spanning twenty-plus years of providing wafer inspection, handling and process control tools for semiconductor manufacturers, but our focus is on the future. We are committed to providing superior service to this dynamic market by promoting closer relationships with our customers. We are also taking steps to increase our flexibility, enhance our creativity and anticipate your needs. By doing so, we can help enable your success.

Just as the semiconductor industry has evolved, IOC has undergone a significant transition over the years — not simply in terms of our products, but also in the way we do business. Our focus on "listening to the customer" has yielded substantial returns over the years by helping IOC develop successful strategies for tool development and improvement. One manifestation of our commitment to customer success is our willingness to "customer-ize" any tool. In fact, we've taken it a step further — we're working to foresee your future needs. Right now, IOC is developing technologies and product strategies designed to help solve your wafer inspection, handling, and control problems through the year 2000 and beyond. And IOC tools will always provide "true value," minimizing your total cost of ownership over the life of the tool.

People are the foundation for success at IOC — they represent our core competency. Our engineering and development expertise includes micro/macro inspection, wafer handling and transfer, and sorting and control technologies. The bottom line — IOC can do more for your success than simply providing tools…let us be your strategic partner.

Sincerely,

A STRATEGIC TOOL SUPPLIER FOR OVER 25 YEARS

IOC Corporate Overview

Financial institutions boast histories of hundreds of years. Automobile manufactures have kept us moving for nearly a century. In comparison, the semiconductor industry is still a baby, but companies that have thrived in this marketplace are now developing proud histories of their own. In 1995, Irvine Optical Corporation celebrated its 20th anniversary. Now in its third decade, Irvine is continuing its tradition of innovation and progress through intelligent engineering.

Irvine Optical was founded in 1975 by the late Richard R. Schram. A former sales engineer with Zeiss and Vickers, Dick foresaw a need for specialized silicon wafer handlers. Within one year, he had built a line of microscope stands and stages for wafer inspection. In 1979, he patented the first non-TV-based line width measurement system. This was eventually licensed to Nanometrics, Inc. under the trade name Nanoline*.

In the early 1980's, IOC expanded both product line and corporate vision. New designs included an ink-based reticle repair system and the firm's first automated wafer handling system, the Ultraspec III. This prototype eventually evolved into the Ultrastation 3 and became the core of Irvine Optical's product line.

After Richard Schram's death in 1986, the President's chair was assumed by his brother Douglas C. Schram, an economics professor. Doug carried on Irvine Optical's tradition of research and development while expanding the firm's sales base to include Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim.

In 1989, Irvine Optical Corporation became a pioneer in the automated wafer sorting process with the introduction of its first Ultrasort model for use with Bar Code and Optical Character Recognition systems. This product line has grown over the years, and the new two-three-and four- cassette sorting systems [available with SMIF] represent the cutting edge in wafer management.

1994 was a year of considerable growth and IOC was approaching "critical mass." It was time to develop new long-term strategies. Ron McIntyre, a twenty year veteran of General Signal, moved into IOC's President's chair after serving the firm as Chief Operation Officer. Ron's expertise and experience has enabled Irvine Optical to clearly define its business strategy. He has also initiated a global product "roadmap" that offers cost-effective solutions to its customers.

In March of 1997, Ron McIntyre purchased Irvine Optical Company. Under his leadership, the company continues to develop and improve its products to meet the automation needs of the semiconductor industry. The firm has maintained its OEM agreements with companies like Rudolph Research, ADE, Hologenix and Nanometrics Systems to custom-develop wafer handling robots, stands and stages to integrate with their existing equipment.

Irvine Optical Company products make factory automated wafer handling systems faster, cleaner, safer, and more efficient. From Taiwan's Industrial Science Park to the heart of Silicon Valley, the company solves wafer handling problems by working directly with customers to develop effective solutions.

* Nanoline is a Trademark of Nanometrics, Inc

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