Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates,Inc. (NASDAQ: VSEA) announced today that its VIISta HC single wafer highcurrent ion implant system was selected as one of "The Top Products of 2005in semiconductor/thin-film processing" by Solid State Technology and wasrecognized as one of the "Greatest Hits of 2005" by MICRO Magazine. Bothacclaims are given in their December 2005 issues.


Stan Yarbro, executive vice president of Varian Semiconductor's worldwidefield operations said, "We are honored that the VIISta HC was recognized asone of the top products by these leading industry magazines. The VIIStaHC's advantages of higher yield and productivity are driving the shift frombatch systems to single wafer tools. Customers worldwide are embracing ourtechnology, many with multiple orders for our HC tools. This industryrecognition reinforces the advantages that are driving customer demand forour tools."


"The VIISta HC's patented dual magnet ribbon beam architecture deliverssuperior particle performance and enables the highest productivity," saidGary Dickerson, Varian Semiconductor's chief executive officer. "Ourcustomers continue to tell us that the VIISta HC is among the cleanesttools in the fab, which translates into higher yields. We are experiencingstrong demand for our VIISta HC tools and have shipped over 200 singlewafer high current systems. Our recently announced wins at major foundry,memory and logic manufacturers underscore the worldwide acceptance of ourproduct."


About the VIISta HC


The global shift to single wafer ion implanters is driven by both thesensitivity of advanced devices to contamination and the requirement forprecise implant angle accuracy. The VIISta HC single wafer ion implanter isthe only system featuring a dual magnet ribbon beam architecture whichprovides the highest productivity and lowest contamination levels in theindustry. In addition, the VIISta HC's unique closed-loop VarianPositioning System (VPS™) offers interlockable angle control for truezero degree applications. These features, combined with repeatable beamsteering control, assure precise dopant placements required in sub-65nmdevices. The VIISta HC is a member of the VIISta suite of ion implanters --the only production proven single wafer platform solution for all implantsegments with over 400 systems installed worldwide.


About Varian Semiconductor


Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc. is the leading producer ofion implantation equipment used in the manufacture of semiconductors. TheCompany is headquartered in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and operatesworldwide. Varian Semiconductor maintains a Web site at www.vsea.com. Theinformation contained in the Company's Web site is not incorporated byreference into this release, and the Web site address is included in thisrelease as an inactive textual reference only.


Note: This release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of thesafe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Actof 1995. For this purpose, the statements concerning the Company'sperformance, market share and technology leadership, technologicalcapabilities and benefits are forward-looking statements and any statementsusing the terms "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "plans," or similarexpressions are forward-looking statements. There are a number of importantrisks and factors that could cause actual events to differ materially fromthose suggested or indicated by such forward-looking statements. Theseinclude, among others, volatility in the semiconductor equipment industry;economic conditions in general and as they affect the Company's customers;significant fluctuations in the Company's quarterly operating results; theimpact of rapid technological change; the Company's dependence on thedevelopment and introduction of new products; the Company's concentrationon ion implantation systems and related products; concentration in theCompany's customer base and lengthy sales cycles; the highly competitivemarket in which the Company competes; risks of international sales; foreigncurrency risks; and general economic conditions; and other factorsidentified in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the most recentQuarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and ExchangeCommission. The Company cannot guarantee any future results, levels ofactivity, performance or achievement. The Company undertakes no obligationto update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of thispress release.


Contacts:Bob HallidayExecutive Vice PresidentChief Financial Officer978.282.7597


Or


Mary WrightDirector, Investor Relations978.282.5859


SOURCE:  Varian Semiconductor