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HORIBA PRESIDENT APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF SEMI

The semiconductor industry's global trade association, SEMI (Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International) has appointed Atsushi Horiba as director.

Mr Horiba is president of the international Horiba Group, which includes STEC, the world leader in the supply of mass flow controllers to the semiconductor industry.

The appointment was welcomed in the UK at Northampton-based Horiba Instruments where Stuart Knight, European sales manager for STEC products, said it cemented the company's position as a major force in the global semiconductor industry.

Mr Horiba's election follows a survey in the Japanese publication Electronic Journal showing STEC was the market leader in 1998 for the fourth year running with 32.4 per cent of the global mass flow controller market.

Formed in 1970, SEMI represents more than 2,000 member companies world-wide in the semiconductor and flat panel display equipment and materials industries. The combined products and services of members contribute more than US$65 billion to the world economy.

As one of 21 directors of SEMI, Mr Horiba will be working to help members expand global marketing opportunities and to lobby world governments for free trade and open markets.

The board consists of a total of 14 directors from the US, 12 from Japan, two from Europe and one from South Korea. Current directors include representatives from Nikon, Disco Corporation, Tokyo Electron and Ando Electronic.

Accepting the appointment, Mr Horiba said, "As manufacturer of a comprehensive range of measurement and control products, it is our intention to increase the Horiba Group's contribution to the semiconductor industry."

Stuart Knight said Mr Horiba's appointment recognised the contribution of mass flow controllers to the semiconductor market and growing recognition of the importance of measurement technology in next-generation semiconductors.