FormFactor Celebrates Ten Years of Enabling Wafer Test Success for Semiconductor Manufacturers in China

SUZHOU, China, Aug. 25, 2016 -- FormFactor, Inc. (Nasdaq:FORM) today marked an important corporate milestone: Ten years in China enabling local semiconductor manufacturers with essential wafer test technologies. To celebrate the occasion, company executives hosted an open house at FormFactor’s new facility in Suzhou, near Shanghai. CEO Mike Slessor and FormFactor’s China General Manager, Limin Yan welcomed local officials to the event, as well as customers, suppliers and employees.   

The celebration marks a new high point for FormFactor. Since 1993, the company has provided an extensive portfolio of high-performance probe card technologies and expertise to the global semiconductor industry. The cards are used to test integrated circuits (ICs) that power nearly every smart phone on the planet, as well as electronic systems used in computing, consumer and automotive applications. Over the years as IC complexity soared, FormFactor continually innovated to equip manufacturers with customized solutions to test their Foundry & Logic, DRAM, and Flash devices. The company employs approximately 1500 people globally.

Today, FormFactor is the world’s top supplier of probe cards (by revenue), according to an annual survey produced by US market research firm, VLSIresearch. FormFactor also ranked 1^st as the BEST supplier of subsystems for customer satisfaction according to a separate survey from the same research firm.

FormFactor CEO Mike Slessor acknowledged China’s growing market, and thanked customers, suppliers, employees, and others for supporting FormFactor’s growth in the region. Speaking at the Open House event, he said, “China’s semiconductor industry is evolving fast, and presenting exciting opportunities for FormFactor. For ten years, we have shared valued collaborations with Chinese customers, beginning at the earliest design phase, and extending through final test where FormFactor technologies are deployed. Boosting our presence in China means we can partner more deeply and with a greater number of customers to help enrich their IC innovation. We’re very pleased to be doing that from our new facility in Suzhou.”

A Decade of Dedication to Customers in China

FormFactor’s operations in Suzhou’s high-tech hub began in 2006. The company, then known as MicroProbe, was a subsidiary of a US probe card company by the same name. When FormFactor acquired MicroProbe in 2012, the Suzhou operation became FormFactor China.

Now, to support its steadily-growing customer base in the region, the company has moved to a larger facility, also in Suzhou. The new 1410 sq. meter (15,170 sq. ft.) site houses FormFactor’s dedicated sales and support team for China, as well as technical experts that work closely with China-based customers to develop optimum test solutions for their unique IC designs. The company employs more than 80 people at this location.

FormFactor’s China General Manager, Limin Yan, said: “FormFactor has a long tradition of working closely with customers to increase test yields and ensure faster time-to-test, while also reducing overall test costs. We will continue to follow the same collaborative approach, and are committed to investing in local R&D to produce high-quality test solutions and enable test success for our customers in China.”

About FormFactor

FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ:FORM), is a worldwide leader in essential test technologies and expertise, including a broad portfolio of high-performance probe cards, engineering probes, probe stations and reliability test systems. For semiconductor companies and scientific institutions, FormFactor delivers access to electrical information from wafers, integrated circuits (ICs), IC packages, optical devices, and more. Customers use FormFactor’s products and services to lower overall production costs, improve their yields, and enable complex next-generation ICs. The company services customers through its network of facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.formfactor.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including with respect to the growth of the semiconductor industry in China, the growth in demand for the company’s products in China, future opportunities for the company to partner with other entities in China, the future success of such partnering relationships, and the company’s plans for future investment in China. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs as of the date hereof, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, such as changes in the markets for our products, macro-economic environments, and other factors, including those set forth in the company’s most current annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other filings by the company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. No assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what impact they will have on the results of operations or financial condition of the company. Unless required by law, the company is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or revise its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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Amy Leong
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