News Details

Veeco Introduces New TAMR PVD System for Advanced Magnetic Recording Heads

June 16, 2010
Enables Next-Generation Data Storage Applications

PLAINVIEW, N.Y., Jun 16, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --Veeco Instruments Inc. (Nasdaq: VECO) announced today the introduction of the NEXUS(R) TAMR Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) System for next-generation Thermal Assisted Magnetic Recording (TAMR), also known as Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR). The new system and Veeco's proprietary process deposits a critical optical structure in the read-write head that conducts the heat source used in TAMR. Veeco also announced that a global hard disk drive manufacturer has placed an order for this PVD system to support its deployment of this key technology.

Robert P. Oates, Executive Vice President of Veeco's Data Storage business, commented, "The hard disk drive industry's roadmap requires continued advancement in areal density, and TAMR is widely regarded as the next critical technology to drive densities up to 50 times greater than where the industry is today. Veeco is partnering with our key customers to qualify our new system for production, and we currently expect to receive additional tool orders from multiple customers as the industry adopts TAMR."

The Veeco NEXUS TAMR PVD System deposits critical low-loss films that make the optical waveguide of the laser. It features heated deposition capability of the oxide films in "dielectric" and "metal modes" of operation. These innovations enable high deposition rates and low optical loss tantalum pentoxide (Ta 2 O 5 ) and aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) films. The Veeco TAMR PVD System leverages Veeco's production-proven high rate reactive alumina platform and proprietary process control.

About Veeco

Veeco Instruments Inc. designs, manufactures, markets and services enabling solutions for customers in the HB-LED, solar, data storage, semiconductor, scientific research and industrial markets. We have leading technology positions in our three businesses: LED & Solar Process Equipment, Data Storage Process Equipment, and Metrology Instruments. Veeco's product development, marketing, engineering and manufacturing facilities are located in New York, New Jersey, California, Colorado, Arizona, Massachusetts and Minnesota. Global sales and service offices are located throughout the U.S., Europe, Japan and Asia Pacific. http://www.veeco.com/

To the extent that this news release discusses expectations or otherwise makes statements about the future, such statements are forward-looking and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These factors include the risks discussed in the Business Description and Management's Discussion and Analysis sections of Veeco's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and in our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and press releases. Veeco does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

SOURCE: Veeco Instruments Inc.

Veeco Instruments Inc.
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