Photon Control adds semiconductor equipment & demonstrates new petroleum industry technology

Burnaby, BC, Canada--Photon Control has completed development of two new systems that will increase its sales to a Fortune-500 producer of semiconductor capital equipment. In addition, after 3 years of extensive product development, Photon Control will present its real-time steam quality and flow (SQF) measurement technology for use in heavy oil production at an upcoming petroleum industry technology session in Canada.

The first new product is a novel laser alignment system that has successfully completed testing by the customer. Photon is now preparing for its production and sales are expected to begin in Q3. Photon has also added a fourth model to its line of high-accuracy wafer positioning systems already being supplied. This custom fiberoptic sensor offers the advantage of robust, repeatable positioning of silicon wafers as they are moved between processing chambers. The first sensor set was shipped in July 2006 and production orders are expected early in Q4 with steady volumes anticipated through 2007.

President S. Robert Blair commented, "In addition to increasing sales, this is valuable to Photon because it indicates further integration of our OEM sensor solutions into our customer's future product lines. Photon was chosen for this development because of its exceptional opto-mechanical design expertise, coupled with rapid prototyping and high quality manufacturing capability. We expect steady business expansion in this sector as the semiconductor equipment industry continues to grow."

In related news, Photon Control is presenting its SQF technology to members of the Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada (PTAC)--an organization formed to facilitate access by the industry to technology relevant to the industry to a formal petroleum industry--at a "Technology Information Session" to be held in Calgary, AB, Canada on September 11, 2006. PTAC has over 200 corporate members in the Western Canadian upstream hydrocarbon energy industry representing over 10,000 individuals.

"We have had favorable response to the steam quality and flow technology from several producers of heavy oil in Alberta, including having conducted initial trials in Q1 this year," said president Blair. "The PTAC process of initiating industry participation, including funding for technology completion, through the Joint Industry Project process works very well for both parties, as our experience with our optical flare meters has shown in the past."

For more information, visit www.photon-control.com.