FormFactor Announces High-Parallelism Wafer Probe Interface for Credence Kalos 2 Flash Memory Test System
BizWire (07/14/2004 7:03 AM ET)

    Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

    LIVERMORE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 14, 2004--

    FormFactor, Inc. (Nasdaq:FORM), a leading provider of advanced wafer probe cards, and Credence Systems Corporation, the industry's leading provider of design-to-test solutions for the global semiconductor industry, today announced that FormFactor has developed the first 72-DUT (device under test) NOR Flash memory wafer probe solution for the Credence Kalos(R) 2 test system. The combination of FormFactor's mission-critical wafer test technology with the Kalos 2's unique parallel test capabilities doubles the previous 36-DUT standard in NOR flash wafer test parallelism. According to FormFactor's estimates, this combination can reduce the cost-of-test for 256 Mb NOR Flash devices by as much as 33 percent.

    Webfeet Research, a Monterey, California-based market analysis firm, forecasts NOR flash bit volumes will grow 59 percent in 2004 and 80 percent in 2005, fueled by strong demand for camera cellular phones and other mobile consumer appliances. The rapid growth in NOR flash production will require manufacturers to significantly increase expensive wafer test capacity, stretching already tight capital budgets. Many NOR flash manufacturers are turning to high-parallelism wafer test solutions to achieve increased test throughput and meet market demand while reducing capital expenditures.

    Credence's Kalos 2 system with 72 independent sites allows manufacturers to test 72 NOR flash devices in parallel. By leveraging the capabilities of FormFactor's new 72-DUT wafer probe solution, Kalos 2 sets a new standard in wafer test parallelism for NOR flash memory. The new FormFactor solution extends the high-pin-count, large-area-array FormFactor wafer test technology used in the DRAM market to test all pads on 72 DUTs of compatible NOR flash die per touchdown. FormFactor memory wafer probe cards, featuring the company's patented MicroSpring(R) interconnect technology, support high levels of parallelism and provide high test-cell availability. FormFactor's proprietary MicroSpring interconnect is a key enabler of the company's high parallelism wafer test probe cards, providing superior accuracy, reliability and signal integrity.

    "Manufacturers need to reduce costs to meet competitive pricing pressures and gain maximum profitability," said Tom Trexler, Marketing Director, Memory Products, Credence Systems Corporation. "As NOR devices begin to show a slow rise in average selling price, the 72-site Kalos 2 with FormFactor probe technology provides a proven solution for high-throughput NOR test. This combination helps manufacturers turn out more devices, reduce manufacturing costs and maximize profit opportunities in today's market."

    FormFactor also plans to apply its S200(TM) high-speed probing test technology in probe cards for the Kalos 2 to create a low-cost test solution for fully tested NOR flash die. FormFactor's S200 test technology enables full functional test of NOR flash die on-wafer, ensuring that only functional devices are implemented in expensive multi-chip packages (MCP) used in mobile consumer electronics. Only FormFactor can combine high-speed probing technology with high parallelism to probe fully tested die cost effectively. The company is a leader in developing the fully tested die approach in the DRAM market, and is now working with Credence to deliver the benefits to NOR flash manufacturers.

    "FormFactor partners with leading semiconductor test companies like Credence to solve the industry's most challenging problems, whether it be test throughput, precise fine-pitch probing, or high-speed signaling for fully tested die," said Larry Levy, director of flash product marketing for FormFactor, Inc. "In our strategic engagement with Credence, we leveraged our proven DRAM technology to deliver the cost-of-test benefits of FormFactor wafer probe cards to the flash wafer test market."

    About Credence

    Credence Systems Corporation (Nasdaq:CMOS) is the industry's leading provider of design-to-test solutions for the global semiconductor industry. With a commitment to applying innovative technology to lower the cost-of-test, Credence delivers competitive cost and performance advantages to integrated device manufacturers (IDMs), wafer foundries, outsource assembly and test (OSAT) suppliers and fabless chip companies worldwide. A global, ISO 9001-certified company with a presence in 20 countries, Credence is headquartered in Milpitas, California. More information is available at http://www.credence.com.

    About FormFactor

    FormFactor, Inc. (Nasdaq:FORM) is an industry leader in the design, development, manufacture, sale and support of precision, high-performance advanced semiconductor wafer probe cards. The company's products are based on its proprietary technologies, including its MicroSpring interconnect technology and proprietary design processes, which enable FormFactor to produce wafer probe cards for test applications that require reliability, speed, precision and signal integrity. FormFactor is headquartered in Livermore, California. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.formfactor.com.

    FormFactor, MicroSpring and S200 are trademarks of FormFactor, Inc.

    Forward-Looking Statement

    Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical in nature are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are based on current information and expectations that are inherently subject to change and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results might differ materially from those in any forward-looking statement due to various factors, including, but not limited to: the specific test requirements of semiconductor manufacturers, and the performance and market acceptance of FormFactor's new products or technologies. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statement is contained in FormFactor's report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal period ended March 27, 2004, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and subsequent filings. Copies of filings made by FormFactor with the SEC are available at http://investors.formfactor.com/edgar.cfm. FormFactor assumes no obligation to update the information in this press release, to revise any forward-looking statements or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements.

--30--AR/se* CONTACT: CONTACT for FormFactor: Fleishman-Hillard Nate James, 503-221-2378 jamesn@fleishman.com or Credence Systems Corporation Tom Trexler, 408-635-4355 tom_trexler@credence.com KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MANUFACTURING HARDWARE COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS MARKETING AGREEMENTS PRODUCT SOURCE: FormFactor, Inc.