News Release

Applied Materials Extends China Leadership With Opening of Xi'an Global Development Center

Mar 22, 2007 at 5:02 PM EDT
XI'AN, China, Mar 22, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Applied Materials, Inc., the global leader in Nanomanufacturing Technology(TM) solutions for the electronics industry, today will hold an opening ceremony for its new Xi'an China Global Development and Technology Support Center. The 106,000 square foot facility on 25 acres (U.S.) offers state-of-the-art laboratory, tool demonstration and assembly space in its cleanrooms.

"The Xi'an center is a major expansion of our capabilities and positions us strategically to benefit as growth continues throughout China, particularly in the west," said Mike Splinter, president and CEO of Applied Materials. "We are attracting quality employees from local technical universities, and this development and support center will be a cornerstone of our growth strategy throughout China and, indeed, all of Asia."

"We are proud to have a company with Applied Materials' reputation for business and technology leadership open such a versatile facility here in Xi'an," said Chen Baogen, Mayor of Xi'an. "We are confident that Xi'an will provide the infrastructure and base of employees needed to accomplish their growth plans and we offer our continued support as we move forward toward mutual prosperity."

In the 22 years since establishing itself as the first semiconductor equipment company in China, Applied Materials has opened seven offices located in Beijing, Kunshan, Shanghai, Suzhou, Tianjin, Wuxi and Xi'an and employs more than 500 people. The company provides sales and services for both domestic and international chip manufacturers at these locations. In Xi'an the company will perform product development, system localization, engineering and software support and sourcing throughout Asia-Pacific. The Center will also serve as a customer demonstration facility for 200mm wafer processing and Applied Materials' most advanced metrology and inspection products.

"We are pleased to celebrate the on-time completion of our newest facility and appreciate the support we received from the Xi'an and Shaanxi provincial governments in achieving this important milestone," Splinter concluded.

Applied Materials continues to concentrate its volume system manufacturing in Austin, Texas, and the majority of its product development in California's Silicon Valley.

Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT) is the global leader in Nanomanufacturing Technology(TM) solutions with a broad portfolio of innovative equipment, service and software products for the fabrication of semiconductor chips, flat panels, solar photovoltaic cells, flexible electronics and energy efficient glass. At Applied Materials, we apply Nanomanufacturing Technology to improve the way people live. Learn more at www.appliedmaterials.com.

SOURCE: Applied Materials, Inc.

Applied Materials, Inc.
David Miller, 408-563-9582 (US)
Randy Bane, 408-986-7977 (financial community)
Ji Lin, 86 21 3895 4550 (China)