Agilent Technologies' Leadership Confirmed in Board Test Market Study; Prime Research Group Industry Study Shows Agilent to Be Market Leader in X-ray and In-circuit Test

Business Wire, Oct 4, 2000

Business Editors/Technology Writers

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 4, 2000

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced that according to a recent study by Prime Research Group, Agilent commands nearly 40 percent of the $600 million in-circuit test industry and more than 72 percent of the $54 million X-ray test system industry.

"While Agilent has long been regarded as the benchmark, the figures released by Prime Research Group reinforce our position as the industry leader," said Kamran Firooz, vice president and general manager of Agilent's Manufacturing Test Division. "By providing the right test at the right cost with the tools to leverage the power of information to our customers, we are able to maintain our position as the leader in both in-circuit and X-ray test."

In 1999, the total in-circuit test market grew by 12 percent. Agilent's market share rose from 35 to 39 percent, maintaining its position as the largest competitor in in-circuit test systems.

In X-ray technology (all types of X-ray machines used in production, including 2D and 3D, manual and automatic), the total market size nearly doubled in only two years. Agilent's market share grew to 72.5 percent of 1999's $53.8 million worldwide X-ray technology market. Agilent anticipates continued strong growth as printed circuit boards become more complex and higher density.

"Manufacturers will discover that X-ray can find faults that are increasingly difficult to find by other methods," said Firooz. "Additionally, X-ray has proven to inspect lead-free solder effectively with very minor changes in calibration."

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a diversified technology company with approximately 46,000 employees serving customers in more than 120 countries. Agilent is a global leader in designing and manufacturing test, measurement and monitoring instruments, systems and solutions, and semiconductor and optical components. In fiscal year 1999, Agilent had net revenue of more than $8.3 billion. The company serves markets that include communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare.

Information about Agilent Technologies can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com.