MKS Instruments Powers its Way to Market Share Gains in 2020

ANDOVER, Mass., April 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ: MKSI), a global provider of technologies that enable advanced processes and improve productivity, today announced significant market share gains across a number of product categories in 2020, as recently reported by VLSI, an independent research and analytics firm.

In a year when industry spending on Semiconductor Capital Equipment was up 19 percent, revenue from MKS’ Semiconductor Market grew almost 50 percent, driven by significant share gains across its critical vacuum subsystems portfolio, led by RF Power Supplies and Remote Plasma solutions. While MKS gained more than 2 percent of share in total Critical Subsystems, MKS delivered an impressive almost 10 percent of share gain in the RF Power Supplies segment, driven by multiyear investments in RF Power technology for leading edge semiconductor processing. In addition, MKS gained over 6 percent of share in Remote Plasma Sources, which are utilized in traditional chamber cleaning and enable the most demanding on wafer deposition processes.   MKS also gained share in other critical vacuum subsystems, such as Pressure Gauges and Valves.

“We are very pleased with our significant market share gains in 2020, which are a testament to our unique Surround the Chamber^® strategy, our operational excellence, and our deep commitment to innovation and accelerating customer roadmaps,” said John T.C. Lee, President and CEO of MKS. “Over the last five years, we have made sizeable and focused investments in our RF Power business, and this has culminated into key design wins that are fueling our market share gains. As a result, we are now essentially tied for the number one market share position for RF Power Supplies, according to the independent VLSI report.”

The MKS RF Generator portfolio enables the most challenging processes in memory chip production. As the vertical structure in memory chips have scaled to unprecedented levels, so too have the requirements for RF Generators, where power levels have increased greater than 10-fold over the last five years. At the same time, the need for ever more precise delivery of this power has required the use of MKS’ unique control algorithms, an innovative combination of capabilities which has given MKS a competitive advantage.

About MKS Instruments

MKS Instruments, Inc. is a global provider of instruments, systems, subsystems and process control solutions that measure, monitor, deliver, analyze, power and control critical parameters of advanced manufacturing processes to improve process performance and productivity for our customers. Our products are derived from our core competencies in pressure measurement and control, flow measurement and control, gas and vapor delivery, gas composition analysis, electronic control technology, reactive gas generation and delivery, power generation and delivery, vacuum technology, lasers, photonics, optics, precision motion control, vibration control and laser-based manufacturing systems solutions. We also provide services relating to the maintenance and repair of our products, installation services and training. Our primary served markets include semiconductor, industrial technologies, life and health sciences, and research and defense. Additional information can be found at www.mksinst.com.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 regarding the future financial performance, business prospects and growth of MKS Instruments, Inc. (“MKS” or the “Company”). These statements are only predictions based on current assumptions and expectations. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words “will,” “projects,” “intends,” “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “continues” and similar expressions) should be considered to be forward-looking statements. Actual events or results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements set forth herein. Among the important factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are the conditions affecting the markets in which MKS operates, including the fluctuations in capital spending in the semiconductor industry and other advanced manufacturing markets, fluctuations in sales to our major customers, the ability to anticipate and meet customer demand, manufacturing and sourcing risks, including supply chain disruptions and component shortages, the terms of our term loan facility, competition from larger or more established companies in MKS’ markets, MKS’ ability to successfully grow its business and particularly the business of Electro Scientific Industries, Inc., which it acquired in February 2019, the challenges, risks and costs involved with integrating the operations of the companies we have acquired, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, dependence on new product development, rapid technological and market change, acquisition strategy, manufacturing and sourcing risks, volatility of stock price, international operations, financial risk management, and the other factors described in MKS’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as filed with the SEC. MKS is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this press release.

MKS Contacts:
Investor Relations:
David Ryzhik
Vice President, Investor Relations
Telephone: (978) 557-5180
Email: david.ryzhik@mksinst.com

Press Relations:
Bill Casey
Senior Director, Marketing Communications
Telephone: (630) 995-6384
Email: bill.casey@mksinst.com

Tom Davies / Jeremy Fielding
Kekst CNC Press Liaisons
Emails: tom.davies@kekstcnc.com / jeremy.fielding@kekstcnc.com