LIVERMORE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 7, 1999--

Technology Pioneer Offers Advanced Test Solution Based on

MicroSpring(TM) Contacts to Semiconductor Makers in

Northern California, The Pacific Northwest and Japan

FormFactor, Inc., the world leading supplier of process technologies and semiconductor wafer interfaces that will enable Moore's Law to extend to the back-end of semiconductor manufacturing, today announced the addition of three distributors in key U.S. and off-shore markets. Each of the distributors will provide sales and support of FormFactor's probe card solutions that enable radical improvements in yield and test productivity of semiconductor wafers and devices.

The agreements reflect the accelerating industry acceptance of FormFactor's high-performance probe cards for parallel testing of high-volume semiconductors. The probe cards use FormFactor's pioneering MicroSpring contact technology that is capable of contacting up to 64 memory devices and over 3000 device pins in parallel. The technology is being applied to interface applications in semiconductor test and semiconductor assembly and packaging.

In the United States, FormFactor has appointed ValuQuest, based in San Jose, Calif., to represent FormFactor in the Silicon Valley area, and SemiTorr Northwest of Wilsonville, Ore., to be its distributor in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. In Japan, Innotech Corporation, has been appointed FormFactor's distributor for probe cards throughout the country.

Distributor Support

"ValuQuest is delighted to represent FormFactor in the Silicon Valley territory," said Dave Wiesen, ValuQuest's President. "I believe that FormFactor's high-performance MicroSpring contact technology's outstanding performance and reliability enables huge reductions in semiconductor test costs, bringing significant value to our customers."

Similarly, Steve Holsberry, President of SemiTorr, commented: "SemiTorr is pleased to announce that we will be representing FormFactor products in the Pacific Northwest. Our customers see the FormFactor MicroSpring contact technology as a means to improve yield and reduce costs in semiconductor test."

Following his firm's appointment, Minoru Yoshida of Innotech, said: "Innotech is pleased and excited about representing FormFactor in the Japanese market. I believe that FormFactor's high-performance MicroSpring contact-probe cards will contribute to significant cost reductions and increased throughputs in semiconductor test by eliminating maintenance and increasing yields. It is truly one of the revolutionary technologies of the past several decades."

FormFactor Expectations

Commenting on the domestic distributor agreements, FormFactor Vice President of Sales, Peter Mathews, said: "We are pleased to join forces with ValuQuest, in Silicon Valley, and SemiTorr, in the Pacific Northwest territories, adding them to our growing list of sales representatives around the world. Each organization brings strong knowledge of the semiconductor manufacturers in its region and years of experience selling high-value products to the semiconductor industry. They will be very valuable to FormFactor in fulfilling our mission to enable Moore's Law in the back-end."

Regarding the appointment of Innotech in Japan, Yoshikazu Hatsukano, President of FormFactor, Inc. Japan, stated: "We are pleased to have Innotech Corporation as a distributor for FormFactor probe cards in Japan, where they have years of experience in probe card and test equipment distribution and support that will prove to be invaluable as FormFactor expands into the Japanese market."

FormFactor's high-parallelism 32- and recently announced 64-Device Under Test (DUT) memory probe cards provide multiple benefits to customers, including improved electrical performance, increased wafer throughput, and elimination of probe card downtime and maintenance. FormFactor probe cards are in production at over 20 wafer fabs worldwide. The new 64-DUT in-parallel probe cards will allow customers of the proven 32-DUT technology to significantly increase die output without additional purchases of test equipment.

About FormFactor

Founded in 1993, FormFactor, Inc. is a private company located in Livermore, Calif. FormFactor is the world's leading supplier of process technologies and interfaces that enable Moore's Law to be extended to the back end of semiconductor manufacturing. (For more information on FormFactor check our website http:/www.formfactor.com)

About ValuQuest

ValuQuest is a San Jose, Calif. based Manufacturers Representative, whose mission is to support the sales of high technology hardware and software products in the Semiconductor Fabrication, Assembly and Test Markets. These products enable ValuQuest Customers to achieve significant cost reduction and time to market advantages. For further information contact Dave Wiesen, President at wiesen@aol.com, or phone 408/274-7077.

About SemiTorr

Semitorr Northwest is a Wilsonville, Ore. based Manufacturers Representative/Distribution/Service Company whose mission is to support the sales and service of high technology equipment and software products in the Semiconductor Fabrication, Assembly and Test Markets. Semitorr Northwest has been in business for over 10 years, covering markets in the Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, California and Montana areas. Semitorr Northwest takes pride in the fact that the products they represent and/or distribute help their customers achieve success in their specific markets. For further information contact Steve Holsberry, President at sholsberry@semitorrnw.com or phone 503/682-7052.

About Innotech

Innotech Corporation, with its principal office at 3-17-6 Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohanma, was founded in 1987 as Japanese semiconductor equipment distributor and has rapid growth. Innotech handles a wide range of products including semiconductor production systems, semiconductor test and design tools, electronic components, and other products catering to the needs of the electronics industry in general. For more information on Innotech Corporation, 81-45-474-9000, Fax 81-45-474-9089

Note to Editors: FormFactor and MicroSpring contact are trademarks of FormFactor, Inc.