Applied Materials Releases the Industry's Most Productive CVD Processing Platform -- the Applied Producer GT

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 14, 2006--Applied
Materials, Inc. today raised productivity to a new level with the
launch of its Applied Producer(R) GT(TM), the industry's fastest, most
cost-effective CVD(1) platform. Capable of processing 150 wafers per
hour (wph), the Producer GT doubles the throughput of any competitive
system, and enables a 30% reduction in cost of ownership and a 50%
increase in wph/m(2) footprint. The Producer GT supports the full
portfolio of Applied's PECVD(1) technology applications with more than
30 world-class production-proven processes.

"This is a dream machine for our customers -- lightning-speed
processing with low cost of ownership and proven process results,"
said Dr. Farhad Moghadam, senior vice president and general manager of
Applied Materials' Thin Films Group. "As films become thinner in
leading-edge devices, deposition tools must become faster and much
more efficient to maximize fab utilization. The Producer GT builds on
our incredibly successful Producer system to provide customers with
process transparency for a full range of PECVD applications for 45nm
and beyond on a faster platform. We are very excited by customers'
response to the GT and are seeing strong product momentum."

Key to the Applied Producer GT platform's benchmark performance is
its FX robot that allows the simultaneous transfer of four wafers,
enabling maximum productivity of a three-Twin Chamber(R) Producer
configuration. The platform's double-decker loadlock reduces wafer
handling time and increases chamber utilization. Wafer-handling
components, designed to minimize defects, achieve 30% lower
mechanical-based particle performance while maintaining high
productivity. A high-capacity factory interface supports up to four
FOUPs for operational efficiency and integrated metrology capability.
The Producer GT has also been redesigned to significantly improve
serviceability, reducing preventive maintenance time by up-to 25%.

To further reduce operating costs by up to 40%, the company's
Metron division offers a customized energy-saving pump and abatement
system package. The Marathon(TM) 8600 is the only abatement system
available that can support the Producer GT's three chamber design with
a single unit.

Customers have purchased and are using more than 1,500 Producer
CVD systems worldwide. The Producer is used by every chip manufacturer
in the industry for fabricating all types of devices through the most
advanced 45nm technology node. The Producer has established Applied's
technology leadership in all advanced chipmaking applications,
including low k, strain engineering, litho-enabling films, thermal
films and high-temperature PECVD.

Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT) is the global leader in
Nanomanufacturing Technology(TM) solutions with a broad portfolio of
innovative equipment, service and software products for the
fabrication of semiconductor chips, flat panels, solar photovoltaic
cells, flexible electronics and energy efficient glass. At Applied
Materials, we apply Nanomanufacturing Technology to improve the way
people live. Learn more at www.appliedmaterials.com.

(1) CVD=chemical vapor deposition; PECVD=plasma enhanced CVD

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CONTACT: Applied Materials, Inc.

Betty Newboe, 408-563-0647 (Editorial/Media)

Randy Bane, 408-986-7977 (Financial Community)

SOURCE: Applied Materials, Inc.