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Unterpremstätten, Austria and Victor, NY - January 17, 2008 -
austriamicrosystems (SWX: AMS), a leading worldwide designer and
manufacturer of high performance analog ICs for communications,
industry, medical and automotive applications, and New Scale
Technologies, Inc., a developer and manufacturer of miniature motion
systems, today announced the completion of a Series B preferred
equity transaction. austriamicrosystems has made a $6 million
investment in exchange for a 25% minority share in privately-held
New Scale of Victor, NY.
The investment underscores a strategic
partnership for product development and new business development in
which the companies will integrate austriamicrosystems’
high-performance analog ICs with New Scale’s patented piezoelectric
SQUIGGLE motors to create “disruptively small” motion systems. The
partners are already working on the integration of New Scale’s tiny
SQUIGGLE motors -- the world’s smallest linear motors -- with custom
motor controller and position sensor ICs from austriamicrosystems.
By reducing the supporting control electronics to single ICs, the
partnership allows New Scale to create complete motion systems on
the same scale as its miniature motors, currently less than 2 x 2 x
6 mm in size.
"This partnership enables us to produce a new line of
disruptively small motion systems with best-in-class precision and
power efficiency," said David Henderson, CEO and CTO of New Scale.
"Tapping austriamicrosystems' expertise in power-efficient analog
ICs and precision magnetic sensors, we can provide our customers
with complete 'closed loop' motion solutions that incorporate micro
motors, drive electronics and position sensors in extremely small
modules, ready for integration into OEM products."
As part of their
strategic partnership, austriamicrosystems and New Scale are
actively pursuing opportunities in auto focus and optical zoom
modules for mobile phone cameras, actuators for electronic locks,
micro fluidic pumps for medical devices, and active control systems
for automotive components.
"New Scale’s SQUIGGLE motor is a powerful
new technology that will have a disruptive impact on communications,
medical and automotive system product designs requiring small motion
systems," commented John Heugle, CEO of austriamicrosystems. "Our
products enable New Scale to create the next generation of miniature
motion modules; therefore we have decided to actively support New
Scale’s market penetration strategy by entering into a strategic
partnership and becoming a shareholder in New Scale. Our partnership
will result in a complete solution that will accelerate market
penetration for New Scale's products and open up new applications
for our high performance analog ICs."
About New Scale Technologies
New Scale Technologies (www.newscaletech.com) creates disruptively small
motion systems based on our patented piezoelectric SQUIGGLE® motor, the world’s
smallest linear motor. This ultrasonic motor is smaller, more precise, less
expensive, more robust and more power-efficient than other micro motors. We
create complete motion systems integrating SQUIGGLE motor technology with
supporting electronics (ASICs) developed in partnership with austriamicrosystems (www.austriamicrosystems.com).
New Scale’s micro motors and micro-actuator modules enable design engineers
to create smaller products including mobile phone cameras, electronic locks and
intelligent fasteners, nano-scale fluid control including lab-on-a-chip systems,
medical devices including miniature drug pumps and endoscopes, optics and
imaging systems, automotive modules, lasers, aerospace and defense systems,
cryogenic and MRI-compatible instruments, and consumer electronics including
micro fuel cells.
SQUIGGLE is a registered trademark of New Scale Technologies, Inc.
About austriamicrosystems
austriamicrosystems is a leading designer and manufacturer of high
performance analog ICs, combining more than 25 years of analog design
capabilities and system know-how with its own state-of-the-art manufacturing
and test facilities. austriamicrosystems leverages its expertise in low power
and high accuracy to provide industry-leading customized and standard analog
products. Operating worldwide with more than 1,000 employees,
austriamicrosystems focuses on the areas of power management, sensors & sensor
interfaces, portable audio and car access in its markets Communications,
Industry & Medical and Automotive, complemented by its Full Service Foundry
activities. austriamicrosystems is listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange in Zurich
(ticker symbol: AMS).
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