Adept Technology Receives Production Order From ASM for Front End Solutions; ASM Purchases Adept Front End Module For Epsilon E2000 Reactors

Business Wire, July 13, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 13, 2001

Adept Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADTK), a leading manufacturer of flexible automation for the telecommunications, fiber optic and semiconductor industries, today announced it has received a production order for the first of several Adept FFE (Flexible Front End) wafer handling systems from ASM America (ASMA), a subsidiary of ASM International N.V. (Nasdaq:ASMI)(Euronext Stock Exchange in Amsterdam:ASM). ASMA is a leading semiconductor equipment manufacturer located in Phoenix, Arizona that manufactures the Epsilon(R) E2000(TM) epitaxial reactors.

"We're delighted with ASMA's decision to utilize the Adept FFE product line," noted John Dulchinos, vice president of North American Sales for Adept Technology. "These products showcase the integration of our unique component technology in a flexible solution for the semiconductor market."

"The Epsilon E2000 series is unique in its ability to support a wide range of epitaxial processes and production requirements in both the semiconductor device and wafer manufacturing markets," noted Bob Haro, director of Epi Marketing at ASMA. "Combining our deposition expertise with Adept's skills in material handling and wafer management, we are able to offer customers unprecedented deposition quality and particle control with high throughput."

Prototype Adept FFE systems, which feature AdeptVicron 300S robots and Adept SMIF EZ openers, have been operating in a semiconductor fab since the beginning of the year, and production units of the Adept FFE and the Epsilon E2000 epitaxial reactors are scheduled to ship in the summer of 2001.

Both Adept and ASM will be exhibiting at SEMICON West July 16th-20th in San Francisco, Calif. Adept's booth will be located in the Gateway Ballroom in the South Hall of the Moscone Center in booth 3306 where they will be exhibiting the Adept FFE wafer handling system, robots, controllers and load ports. ASM will be exhibiting in booth 710 in the South Hall.

ASM International N.V. is headquartered in Bilthoven, the Netherlands. ASM International is a global company, serving one of the most important and demanding industries in the world. The Company possesses a strong technological base, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, a competent and qualified workforce and a highly trained, strategically distributed support network. ASM International and it's subsidiaries design and manufacture equipment and materials used to produce semiconductor devices. ASM International and its subsidiaries provide production solutions for wafer processing, assembly and packaging through their facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia. ASM International's common stock shares trade on Nasdaq (symbol ASMI) and the Euronext Stock Exchange in Amsterdam (symbol ASM). For more information, visit ASM's web site at http://www.asm.com.

Adept Technology designs, manufactures and markets factory automation components and systems for the fiber optic, telecommunications, semiconductor, automotive, food and durable goods industries throughout the world. Adept's robots, controllers, and software products are used for small parts assembly, material handling and ultra precision process applications. Our intelligent automation product lines include industrial robots, configurable linear modules, flexible feeders, semiconductor process components, nanopositioners, machine controllers for robot mechanisms and other flexible automation equipment, machine vision, systems and software, application software, and simulation software. Founded in 1983, Adept is America's largest manufacturer of industrial robots. More information is available at www.adept.com.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The company's actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any of the above forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to: potential delays associated with the development and introduction of new products or software releases; and the potential that our new or existing products may contain defects, errors or performance problems.

For a discussion of additional risk factors relating to Adept's business, see the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000 and Adept's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended September 30, 2000, December 30, 2000 and March 31, 2001, including Management's discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained therein.

Note to Editors: The Adept logo is a registered trademark of Adept Technology, Inc. Adept, AdeptWindows Controller, AdeptVicron, Adept FFE and Adept SMIF EZ are trademarks of Adept Technology. All other trademarks are owned by their respective companies. ASM and Epsilon are registered trademarks and E2000 is a trademark of ASM International.