NEWPORT, Wales, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd. (SPP), today announced that it has acquired the majority of the assets of Aviza Technology, Inc. The acquisition was closed on Friday 16 October after completion of the process required by the US bankruptcy court with jurisdiction over Aviza's Chapter 11 filing in June 2009.

The acquisition includes Aviza's single wafer process equipment subsidiary Aviza Technology Ltd (ATL); Aviza's thermal products business; and Aviza's global sales and service assets and personnel, with the exception of IP related to atomic layer deposition (ALD) systems and process.

ATL and the other acquired assets will be merged with Surface Technology Systems plc (STS), SPP's wholly owned subsidiary, under the corporate umbrella of SPP Process Technology Systems (SPTS). ATL and STS will continue to operate separately during the integration process. A new business unit, Thermal Products Division, will be established in the USA, with focus on supporting Aviza's existing vertical furnace and APCVD customers.

"SPP is excited to reunite STS and Aviza, both with common lineage from Electrotech Equipment Ltd, after so many years of separation," remarked Susumu Kaminaga, President of SPP and Chairman of SPTS. "As we broaden our product line through this acquisition we feel all STS and Aviza customers in MEMS, compound semiconductor, advanced packaging, data storage and power device industries will benefit from more technology options from one supplier, with enhanced global service and support."

William Johnson, President of SPTS and Director of Corporate Strategy for STS, continued, "We appreciate that Aviza customers have had concerns about the long term stability of the company over the past 6 to 9 months. Now through the merger of STS and Aviza we believe we offer a technically strong and financially sound business that is focused on our customers and the enabling technologies of tomorrow. In addition, we look forward to providing factory certified parts, upgrades, service, and additional systems to the thermal products customers of Aviza with the same experienced Scotts Valley team that has served them in the past under the Watkins Johnson, SVG, and Aviza brands."

About SPP Process Technology Systems Ltd

SPP Process Technology Systems Ltd (SPTS) was formed by Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd. (SPP), to merge Surface Technology Systems plc (STS) with Aviza Technology Ltd. (ATL) and the Aviza Thermal Products business, both acquired by SPP from Aviza Technology, Inc. STS and ATL design, manufacture, sell and support advanced semiconductor capital equipment and process technologies for the global semiconductor industry and related markets. These systems are used in a variety of segments, such as data storage, MEMS and nanotechnology, advanced 3-D packaging and power integrated circuits for communications. The Thermal Products business provides spare parts, upgrades, and new or remanufactured systems to existing customers of Aviza's vertical furnaces and APCVD systems, used primarily in the semiconductor industry.

SOURCE SPP Process Technology Systems