MKS Instruments

MKS Instruments is one of the leading worldwide providers of process control solutions for advanced manufacturing processes, such as semiconductor device manufacturing and thin film manufacturing for flat panel displays, optical storage media, architectural glass and electro-optical products. The company also provides technology for medical imaging equipment. Its instruments, components and subsystems incorporate sophisticated technologies to power, measure, control and monitor complex gas-related semiconductor manufacturing processes. MKS Instruments also offers a wide variety of analog and digital automatic pressure control instruments and valves. The controllers range from simple analog manual tuning units to adaptive digital signal processing systems. MKS Instruments is located in Andover, Mass.

Nanometrics is a leading supplier of advanced integrated and standalone metrology equipment to the semiconductor industry. Nanometrics product lines offer an array of proprietary technologies in optics, software and systems integration designed to meet the process control requirements of advanced semiconductor technologies. These process control solutions are implemented on common metrology platforms that can be configured with a variety of measurement technologies, or as a single technology targeted for a specific process control application. The company s metrology systems are designed to measure various thin film properties, critical circuit dimensions and layer-to-layer circuit alignment during various steps of the manufacturing process. Nanometrics maintains its headquarters in Milpitas, Calif., and it operates sales and service offices throughout the world. Nanometrics is traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol NANO.

MKS Instruments is one of the world s leading providers of subsystems and process control solutions that controls, monitors and measures the parameters of manufacturing processes. It offers leak detection, vacuum fabrication, and gas and vapor delivery systems. The company provides ozone products, vacuum gauges and valves. MKS Instruments also offers heater jackets for stainless steel vacuum components. It provides products under the SenseLink, PICO and HPS brands. The company serves the flat panel display, data storage, material processing, industrial, pharmaceutical, medical imaging, semiconductor, and air and gas analysis markets. MKS Instruments offers a range of repair, calibration and technical support services.