Austin, TX -Tokyo Electron (TEL) is beginning a one-year celebration to commemorate its 40th year in business. Established in 1963 in Tokyo as an affiliate of Tokyo Broadcasting Systems, the company began as an exporter of VTRs and car radios and an importer of electronic equipment and parts. Forty years and multiple generations of technologies later, TEL has become a leading supplier of semiconductor production equipment and flat panel display (FPD) manufacturer in the world, with a global infrastructure that spans 12 countries and over 80 locations worldwide. Various customer and employee anniversary events will occur throughout the year, with a focus on the anniversary date of November 11, 2003.

    Early experience as a trading company provided the foundation for TEL's commitment to customer success. Long-term relationships with global customers, trading partners and consortia have been instrumental in building TEL into a world-leading technology company, enabling the company to bridge gaps and branch into new technologies. Today, through innovative next generation equipment, R&D, process engineering and support, TEL upholds its reputation as a leading participant in the technological revolution.

    "We view our 40th anniversary as a tremendous milestone for TEL and the semiconductor production equipment industry," remarked Tetsuro Higashi, CEO, President of Tokyo Electron Limited. "As we celebrate our past accomplishments, we'd also like to thank our customers for the collaboration and efforts that have made us a successful company. We look forward to continuing this growth with a firm commitment to ongoing R&D and successful implementations of new innovations for years to come."