SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 11, 1995--Orbit Semiconductor, Inc. (NASDAQ:ORRA), a provider of semiconductor design and manufacturing services, today announced the appointment of Edward R. Rodriguez to the newly created post of group vice president.

Reporting to President and Chief Executive Officer Gary Kennedy, Rodriguez will be responsible for managing the combined sales, marketing, engineering and customer service organizations for Orbit Semiconductor.

"As part of our plan to take Orbit to the next level of growth, we have been searching for a senior executive of Ed's caliber for more than a year," said Kennedy. "With his background of 20 years working for leading companies in the semiconductor industry, Ed brings a wealth of experience.

"His most recent accomplishment was leading a sales organization at Symbios Logic that grew revenues from $200 million to $500 million. At S-MOS, under Ed's direction, revenues grew from less than $20 million to $120 million. This is the kind of experience and leadership Orbit needs to meet its objectives as it moves forward."

Rodriguez most recently was vice president, world sales of Symbios Logic Incorporated, a subsidiary of Hyundai, and formerly the NCR Microelectronics Products Division of AT&T Global Information Solutions. Prior to joining NCR, he held management positions at S-MOS Systems, Samsung Semiconductor, Synertek Incorporated and Fairchild Camera and Instruments Corporation.

Rodriguez has a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Santa Clara School of Law and a B.A. degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz.

Orbit provides semiconductor design, manufacturing and engineering support services that allow system designers to manage application specific integrated circuit production, scheduling and inventory control effectively. Through Orbit's ENCORE! program, customers can convert their ASICs into Orbit gate arrays for more cost-effective solutions or accelerated delivery.

The ENCORE! program, in conjunction with Orbit's independent manufacturing capability, addresses limitations associated with field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) as well as mask programmable gate arrays (MPGAs).

The advantages of ENCORE! gate arrays include low-volume requirements, low-unit cost, fast turnaround, high performance, design flexibility, programmable power supplies, packaging options and guaranteed functionality. Because Orbit has its own manufacturing facility, it can guarantee customers on-time delivery.

A leader in FPGA conversion services, Orbit has completed more than 550 design conversions through its ENCORE! program.

In June, Orbit acquired KMOS Semiconductor, a supplier of CMOS mixed-signal (analog-digital) ASIC designs based on cost-effective gate arrays. The KMOS mixed-signal gate arrays and their low-voltage design methodology provide a significant opportunity in battery-operated products.

Orbit also provides high-reliability manufacturing and prototyping services. The Company sells its products and services to designers of a wide variety of electronic systems and products for application in the medical, telecommunications, consumer, aerospace and military, computers and peripherals, and other industries.

CONTACT: Orbit Semiconductor, Inc.

Gary Kennedy or Anne Scott, 408/744-1800