IBM, one of the world's leading foundries, has chosen Rehovot-based Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd., a provider of leading edge stand-alone metrology and the market leader of integrated metrology solutions to the semiconductor process control market, as its metrology solution of record for both the 22nm and 32nm technology nodes.

The selection defines Nova as the sole provider of Stand Alone Optical CD metrology for both back end and front end of line applications including Lithography, Etch, CMP and advanced thin film applications. The Company expects to receive several stand alone tool orders in the coming quarters. Potential income from the deal is estimated at $10 million until the end of 2010 according to market sources.

"The selection of Nova's metrology solution by one of the world's technology leaders is clear recognition of the technology leadership we have attained in the stand alone Optical CD market over the past few years. Our solution was evaluated against competing technologies over the past 12 months in the most advanced and challenging development environments and was able to cope with the most complicated next generation applications across several key areas of the fab", said Dr. Boaz Brill, VP Technology Development at Nova.

"Winning the support of this particular customer, who is known as a technology leader and an industry benchmark, is of huge strategic value to the Company. With this third major foundry win we further expand our reach into this growing segment, an area where most capital spending is expected to continue in the coming years", said Gabi Seligsohn, President & CEO at Nova.

The NovaT500 provides extremely high throughput of 250 Wafers Per Hour (13 measurement sites). Based on Nova's patented Normal Incidence Spectral Reflectometry, the NovaT500 redesigned optics, improve metrology precision by 30% over current generation NovaScan 3090Next. This flexible platform allows up to three Measurement Units to be installed on the same tool, providing an easy and cost effective path to upgrades as well as adding other metrology capabilities as they become available. Combined with NovaMARS, advanced application development software, the NovaT500 has the ability to measure fine profile parameters on complex 3D test structures as well as in the device.

Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. develops, produces and markets advanced integrated and stand alone metrology solutions for the semiconductor manufacturing industry. Nova is traded on the NASDAQ & Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.