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Apogee Technology Introduces Sensilica Miniature Pressure Sensors; New Family of All-Silicon Sensors with Size, Cost, Performance and Reliability Advantages -- Apogee's First Launch of MEMS Division ProductsNORWOOD, Mass. --(Business Wire)-- May 12, 2005 -- Apogee Technology, Inc. (AMEX:ATA), a global provider of integrated circuits and an emerging Micro-Electromechanical Systems ("MEMS") sensor supplier, today announced the introduction of its Sensilica(TM) family of "all silicon" pressure sensors. The Company believes its first MEMS products have considerable size, cost, performance and reliability advantages compared to existing solutions. In addition to its first Sensilica product now being sampled to customers, Apogee plans to introduce six new Sensilica designs in 2005 to meet a wide range of pressure sensor applications including industrial, consumer, automotive, medical and HVAC. The key advantages of Apogee's Sensilica sensors are derived from the novel manufacturing approach and design methodology that reduces sensor size by a factor of four compared to most existing solutions. Apogee believes that this simplified "all silicon" approach will significantly reduce cost and improve the reliability by eliminating the need to use multiple components to create a pressure sensor. In addition to the size and cost benefits, the Company expects Sensilica sensors to be very robust, significantly reducing the potential of failure when the sensor is subjected to excessive pressure levels. "Sensilica's size, cost, performance and reliability advantages will place Apogee in a leadership position in product innovation and value," said Glenn Fricano, Director of Apogee's MEMS Division. "The Company has under development, and intends to offer, a broad range of Sensilica products providing our customers a single source for all their pressure sensor needs." The total MEMS pressure market is expected to grow to $930M in 2007, according to a leading market research company. Apogee believes that one key driver of this growth may be a ruling issued in April 2005 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that will require automakers to incorporate tire pressure monitoring systems by 2008. In the U.S. alone, 18 million light vehicles were sold in 2004, which could represent a potential pressure sensor market opportunity of over 70 million units per year. The first Sensilica product is a 0-75 pounds per square inch pressure sensor die. The design is ideal for original equipment manufacturers seeking low-cost, high-performance absolute pressure sensing measurement in an extremely small form factor. The Company has engineering samples available for immediate delivery and expects to ship production devices in the second half of 2005. The Company is also planning to introduce six new Sensilica pressure sensor products this year to meet a wide range of pressure applications. Sensilica pressure sensors are the first MEMS products to be released since the formation of the Company's MEMS division in New York. Over the past year, the Company has: -- Retained a MEMS development team, -- Established MEMS manufacturing and research partnerships, -- Signed a cooperative research agreement to develop the next generation of Nanoscale sensors, -- Designed and released the first MEMS pressure sensor product and -- Developed a MEMS medical device, which is currently being evaluated for drug delivery applications. About Apogee Technology, Inc. Apogee Technology is a fabless semiconductor company that designs, develops and markets silicon-based products that incorporate proprietary technologies. The Company's patented all-digital, high efficiency Direct Digital Amplification (DDX(R)) ICs have been used by over 20 major consumer electronic brands in a wide range of audio products. The company is developing new System-on-Chip products using its analog and digital circuit designs and Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) technology for the consumer, automotive, communications and medical markets. The Company operates a worldwide marketing and sales organization and has offices in the U.S., Hong Kong and Japan. For more information please visit our web site at: http://www.apogeeddx.com. DDX(R) is a registered trademark of Apogee Technology, Inc. All other product names noted herein may be trademarks of their respective holders. Certain statements made herein that use the words "anticipate," "hope," "estimate," "project," "intend," "plan," "expect," "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from those that may be expressed or implied. Please refer to the company's risk factors as set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its reports on Forms 10-KSB and 10-QSB. |
