Rudolph Receives Orders for AXi 940 Inspection Modules
Rudolph Technologies, Inc. announced that it has received multiple system orders for its recently-introduced AXi 940 macro defect inspection module from a major chip manufacturer based in Singapore.

Hyundai to Build $181M Solar Cell Plant
Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., the world's largest shipbuilder, said it plans to invest 190 billion won (US$181M) to build a solar-cell plant, as part of efforts to diversify its revenue resources.

Nanometrics Acquires Assets of Tevet
Nanometrics Inc. announced that it has acquired Tevet Process Control Technologies, Ltd. through an all-cash asset purchase transaction.

Crossing Automation Raises $6M; Launch Expected in July
Crossing Automation: The Mountain View company has raised $6 million in a first round of capital to expand its wafer-automation equipment business for chip factories.

MIT Building Low-Cost Solar Concentrator
A team of students, led by mechanical engineering graduate student Spencer Ahrens, has spent the last few months assembling a prototype for a concentrating solar power system they think could revolutionize the field.

Varian Q2 2008 Earnings Conference Call
Garry Rogerson, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Edward McClammy, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Hynix to Buy 8-10% Stake in Taiwan's ProMos
Hynix said Thursday it has decided to buy shares of Promos Technologies. The decision is in line with the two sides' strategy to strengthen cooperation in chip-making technologies.

Mattson Ships Alpine Photoresist Stripper to Taiwan Customer
Mattson Technology Inc. announced the release of the Alpine photoresist strip tool.

Applied Materials Ships 200th Producer System
Applied Materials Inc. announced the shipment of its 200th Applied Producer APF system.

EMD Chemicals to Open New Materials Research Lab
EMD Chemicals Inc., a subsidiary of Merck KGaA of Germany, announced today that it will open a new research and development laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

ISS Recommends Dismissal of ASMI CEO
ASM International NV shareholders have been advised by Institutional Shareholder Services to vote in favour of proposals to dismiss chief executive Chuck del Prado and five members of the supervisory board at the company's AGM on May 21, various Dutch media report.

Community Group Wants Rules on AMD Tightened
The leader of a group formed to study the impact of the Luther Forest Technology Campus will have on the community says the rules Advanced Micro Devices must follow if they build here are too vague.

AMD Stock Surges on Split Rumors
Shares of Advanced Micro Devices Inc. surged on speculation that it was close to announcing plans to split up the company, with manufacturing spun out as a separate entity.

Metryx and Hermes-Epitek Sign Agreement
Metryx Limited announced that it will work together with Hermes-Epitek to promote Metryx equipment in Taiwan, China and Singapore.

Nextreme OptoCooler Module Aimed at High Heat-Flux Optoelectronics
Nextreme Thermal Solutions announces a new thin-film thermoelectric cooler module designed for optoelectronic applications with high heat-flux requirements.

IBM Fellow Stuart Parkin Wins IEEE Daniel E. Noble Award
At the IEEE International Magnetics Conference today in Madrid, IBM Fellow Stuart Parkin received the Daniel E. Noble Award for his fundamental contributions to the development of magneto-resistive devices used in hard disk drives today.

Sematech to Hold Workshop on EUV Source Technology
SEMATECH  will hold two workshops to guide critical thinking on extending the semiconductor lithography roadmap.

National Nanotech Initiative Funding Passes House Committee
House Science and Technology Committee approved H.R. 5940, the National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2008.

NVE Corp. Reports Fiscal Year Results
NVE Corp. revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 increased 33% to $6.05 million from $4.57 million in the prior-year quarter.

Axcelis Announces Net Loss for First Quarter
Axcelis Technologies Inc. announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008. The Company reported first quarter revenues of $84.9 million, compared to $89.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2007. Net loss for the first quarter was $11.1 million, or $0.11 per share.