EV Group Receives First-ever Ranking Among Top Five VLSIresearch 10 BEST Suppliers of Chip Making Equipment

ST. FLORIAN, Austria, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- EV Group (EVG), a leading supplier of wafer bonding and lithography equipment for the MEMS, nanotechnology and semiconductor markets, today announced that for the first time, its customers have ranked EVG as one of VLSIresearch's top five 10 BEST Focused Suppliers of Chip Making Equipment companies in the market research firm's extensive customer satisfaction survey results for 2012.  EVG was also awarded third place in VLSIresearch's 2012 THE BEST Small Suppliers of Wafer Processing Equipment ranking, with its stellar product performance and customer service landing it on this list for the tenth consecutive year. Together, these rankings represent EV Group's best showing to date in the prestigious annual surveys, underscoring the success of the company's focused efforts to continually improve its products and services.

This year's VLSIresearch customer satisfaction survey represents feedback from more than 99 percent of the global chip market, garnered over a period of more than two months. Participants were asked to rate equipment suppliers among 15 categories based on three key factors: supplier performance, customer service, and product performance.  EVG soared from the fifteenth position in 2011 to ranking fourth in 2012 in the 10 BEST Focused Suppliers category – the company's first-ever appearance on one of the two most important, aggregated 10 BEST Suppliers of Chip Making Equipment lists.  In addition, its third-place spot among THE BEST Small Suppliers of Wafer Processing Equipment was a three-position jump from last year's survey results.

"We congratulate EV Group on achieving its first appearance within the top five of the 10 BEST list this year," said G. Dan Hutcheson, CEO of VLSI Research.  "EVG continues to innovate and introduce leading-edge equipment for 3D IC semiconductor applications, while expanding and strengthening its position in new markets, such as LED manufacturing and optoelectronics.  Moving up from 15th to 4th in our 10 BEST list of focused suppliers is an incredible accomplishment and signifies EV Group's solid focus on ensuring its customers receive best-of-class products and service."

"EV Group constantly evolves and implements new programs that raise the bar on delivering leading-edge equipment and service to our customers," said Hermann Waltl, EVG's executive sales and customer support director.  "This year's achievements—a ranking in the top five of VLSIresearch's 10 BEST Focused Equipment Suppliers for the first time and again improving in THE BEST Small Suppliers of Wafer Manufacturing Equipment—reflect our commitment to ensuring all of our customers receive best-in-class service, support and solutions.  We are honored to receive these awards, and we thank our customers for partnering with us to help create mutually beneficial working relationships."

About EV Group (EVG)
EV Group (EVG) is a world leader in wafer-processing solutions for semiconductor, MEMS and nanotechnology applications.  Through close collaboration with its global customers, the company implements its flexible manufacturing model to develop reliable, high-quality, low-cost-of-ownership systems that are easily integrated into customers' fab lines.  Key products include wafer bonding, lithography/nanoimprint lithography (NIL) and metrology equipment, as well as photoresist coaters, cleaners and inspection systems.

In addition to its dominant share of the market for wafer bonders, EVG holds a leading position in NIL and lithography for advanced packaging and MEMS.  Along these lines, the company co-founded the EMC-3D consortium in 2006 to create and help drive implementation of a cost-effective through-silicon via (TSV) process for major ICs and MEMS/sensors.  Other target semiconductor-related markets include silicon-on-insulator (SOI), compound semiconductor and silicon-based power-device solutions.

Founded in 1980, EVG is headquartered in St. Florian, Austria, and operates via a global customer support network, with subsidiaries in Tempe, Ariz.; Albany, N.Y.; Yokohama and Fukuoka, Japan; Seoul, Korea and Chung-Li, Taiwan.  More information is available at www.EVGroup.com.

SOURCE EV Group