INFICON Receives $4.3 Million Follow-on Order for HAPSITE From U.S. Department of Defense
Syracuse, New York/Zurich, Switzerland - August 5, 2003 - INFICON Holding AG (SWX Swiss Exchange and NASDAQ: IFCN), a leading manufacturer of vacuum instrumentation and process control software for the semiconductor and related industries and other industrial applications, has received a follow-on order worth $4.3 million for its HAPSITE Chemical Identification System from the United States? Department of Defense for use by National Guard Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams (WMD-CST). INFICON expects to begin shipment of the instruments immediately.
"Each of the 32 National Guard civil support teams across the United States already has at least two HAPSITE instruments. This order demonstrates the growing acceptance and expanding uses for HAPSITE in security and homeland defense initiatives," said James Brissenden, president and chief executive officer. "The HAPSITE instrument weighs only 35-pounds, enabling it to be carried into the field so that emergency responders can quickly make the right decisions affecting life, health and safety."
HAPSITE Chemical Identification System, the only fully portable gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS), was developed using INFICON expertise in gas-sensing and vacuum technology. It is used for fast, on-scene detection and analysis of chemical agents and toxic materials in air, soil and water.
National Guard WMD-CST units, comprised of full-time Army and Air National Guard members, are congressionally mandated to help authorities respond to disasters caused by terrorist attack involving weapons of mass destruction, as well as other disasters and catastrophic events, both natural and man-made. Their mission is to assist local first responders with early identification of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive agents/substances, assessment of current and projected consequences, and then to provide support. These HAPSITE-equipped teams have been sent to high-profile events such as a presidential inauguration, the World Series, Super Bowl, and Winter Olympics to ensure public safety. A WMD-CST team was among the first units to conduct air sampling at the World Trade Center following the Sept. 11 attack.
About INFICON
INFICON is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of innovative vacuum instrumentation, critical sensor technologies, and advanced process control software for the semiconductor and related industries and other industrial applications. These analysis, measurement and control products are vital to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and end-users in the complex manufacturing of semiconductors, flat panel displays, magnetic and optical storage media and precision optics. INFICON also provides essential instrumentation for gas leak detection and toxic chemical analysis to the air conditioning/refrigeration, emergency response and industrial hygiene markets. Headquartered in Syracuse, New York, INFICON has world-class manufacturing facilities in the United States and Europe and worldwide offices in the U.S., China, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. For more information about INFICON and its products, please visit the Company's website at www.inficon.com.
This press release and oral statements or other written statements made, or to be made, by us contain forward-looking statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts. Forward looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "believe", "will", "expect", "project", "assume", "estimate", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "resumes", "opportunity," "potential", or "guidance". These forward-looking statements address, among other things, our strategic objectives, trends in vacuum technology and in the industries that employ vacuum instrumentation, such as the semiconductor and related industries and the anticipated effects of these trends on our business. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of our management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect our current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. Some of these risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for fiscal 2002 and the Company's reports on Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission during 2003. As a consequence, our current and anticipated plans and our future prospects, results of operations and financial condition may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of our company. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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"Each of the 32 National Guard civil support teams across the United States already has at least two HAPSITE instruments. This order demonstrates the growing acceptance and expanding uses for HAPSITE in security and homeland defense initiatives," said James Brissenden, president and chief executive officer. "The HAPSITE instrument weighs only 35-pounds, enabling it to be carried into the field so that emergency responders can quickly make the right decisions affecting life, health and safety."
HAPSITE Chemical Identification System, the only fully portable gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS), was developed using INFICON expertise in gas-sensing and vacuum technology. It is used for fast, on-scene detection and analysis of chemical agents and toxic materials in air, soil and water.
National Guard WMD-CST units, comprised of full-time Army and Air National Guard members, are congressionally mandated to help authorities respond to disasters caused by terrorist attack involving weapons of mass destruction, as well as other disasters and catastrophic events, both natural and man-made. Their mission is to assist local first responders with early identification of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive agents/substances, assessment of current and projected consequences, and then to provide support. These HAPSITE-equipped teams have been sent to high-profile events such as a presidential inauguration, the World Series, Super Bowl, and Winter Olympics to ensure public safety. A WMD-CST team was among the first units to conduct air sampling at the World Trade Center following the Sept. 11 attack.
About INFICON
INFICON is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of innovative vacuum instrumentation, critical sensor technologies, and advanced process control software for the semiconductor and related industries and other industrial applications. These analysis, measurement and control products are vital to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and end-users in the complex manufacturing of semiconductors, flat panel displays, magnetic and optical storage media and precision optics. INFICON also provides essential instrumentation for gas leak detection and toxic chemical analysis to the air conditioning/refrigeration, emergency response and industrial hygiene markets. Headquartered in Syracuse, New York, INFICON has world-class manufacturing facilities in the United States and Europe and worldwide offices in the U.S., China, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. For more information about INFICON and its products, please visit the Company's website at www.inficon.com.
This press release and oral statements or other written statements made, or to be made, by us contain forward-looking statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts. Forward looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "believe", "will", "expect", "project", "assume", "estimate", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "resumes", "opportunity," "potential", or "guidance". These forward-looking statements address, among other things, our strategic objectives, trends in vacuum technology and in the industries that employ vacuum instrumentation, such as the semiconductor and related industries and the anticipated effects of these trends on our business. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of our management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect our current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. Some of these risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for fiscal 2002 and the Company's reports on Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission during 2003. As a consequence, our current and anticipated plans and our future prospects, results of operations and financial condition may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of our company. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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