FormFactor Introduces Advanced MEMS-Based Probe Card for NAND Flash Device Testing

September 11, 2014 at 7:30 AM EDT

LIVERMORE, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/11/14 -- FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM) today announced the introduction of its Vector™ NAND Flash Memory probe card, a novel MEMS-based probe card designed to test cost-sensitive NAND Flash devices. With an innovative vDock™ architecture that enables test floor flexibility through multiple-device reusability, Vector addresses customers' stringent performance and uptime requirements, as well as their aggressive cost targets and time-to-market imperatives. Vector is already delivering these benefits and economic efficiencies to a leading NAND Flash device manufacturer.

The NAND Flash market is growing steadily. Demand is being driven by smart mobile devices and solid-state drives (SSDs) used in both personal computers (PCs) and enterprise data centers, with Gartner predicting a 37 percent CAGR in bits growth from 2013 through 2018. This NAND Flash growth trend has made probe cards for NAND Flash devices a fast-growing part of the advanced probe card market, with VLSIresearch reporting that probe card sales for NAND Flash devices will reach nearly $220 million by 2018.

FormFactor's Vector product addresses customers' NAND Flash test cost and efficiency requirements, with extendibility to meet future requirements, through the implementation of a new, scalable product architecture. The Vector product incorporates a reusable vDock docking station, and custom interchangeable 300-mm MEMS-based probe heads. With vDock, the high-uptime MEMS probe head specific to each customer device can be quickly changed on site with minimal production downtime. This innovation increases test floor flexibility to test different devices, and delivers meaningful cost-of-test improvements.

Mike Slessor, President at FormFactor, said: "The world's leading semiconductor manufacturers have long relied on FormFactor's technology capabilities and roadmap to enable their next-generation device production ramps. Now, a new group of customers can similarly benefit by using Vector to test their NAND Flash devices. We believe that the product's breakthrough capabilities will help these manufacturers bring their products to market faster by providing test efficiencies and lowering test costs."

For more information on the Vector Probe Card, please visit www.formfactor.com

About FormFactor
FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM) helps semiconductor manufacturers test the integrated circuits (ICs) that power consumer mobile devices, as well as computing, automotive and other applications. The company is one of the world's leading providers of essential wafer test technologies and expertise, with an extensive portfolio of high-performance probe cards for DRAM, Flash and SoC devices. Customers use FormFactor's products and services to lower overall production costs, improve their yields and enable complex next-generation ICs. Headquartered in Livermore, California, the company services its customers from a network of facilities in Europe, Asia and North America. www.formfactor.com

FormFactor, the FormFactor logo, Vector and vDock are registered or unregistered trademarks of FormFactor, Inc. All other product, trademark, company or service names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-looking Statements:
Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical in nature are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding anticipated results, market conditions or trends, expectations and operating plans. These forward-looking statements are based on current information and expectations that are inherently subject to change and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results might differ materially from those in any forward-looking statement due to various factors, including, but not limited to: changes in the market demand for the company's products; the ability of the company's Vector product to address NAND Flash test cost-efficiency requirements and to meet future requirements; customers' demand for the Vector product; and the company's ability to deliver the Vector product on short lead times and create test efficiencies for customers, and lower customers' test costs. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statement is contained in the company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2013, as filed with the SEC, and subsequent SEC filings, including the company's Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q. Copies of the company's SEC filings are available at http://investors.formfactor.com. The company assumes no obligation to update the information in this press release, to revise any forward-looking statements or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements.

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Source: FormFactor

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