Silver, Canestrari Announce Vistec Lithography
Moving To Capital District

Major International High-Tech Firm Relocating From England, 130 Jobs To Be Created

Project Continues Watervliet Arsenal's Growth As Center For Innovation

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assemblyman Ron Canestrari (D-Cohoes) today announced the Assembly is providing $30 million in funds it secured in the state budget towards the relocation of Vistec Lithography Inc.'s global headquarters, research and development, manufacturing and business operations from Cambridge in the United Kingdom to the Arsenal Campus in Watervliet. Vistec's decision to relocate the company represents the first time a high-tech equipment supplier moves its entire operations to the Capital Region.

As part of its move, Vistec will be establishing joint R&D operations at the UAlbany NanoCollege under a newly created Center for Nanolithography Development so that Vistec will be able to conduct its most advanced research and development of electron beam lithography equipment in the interdisciplinary fields of nanotechnology in partnership with the faculty and students at the College. This Center will not only support Vistec's research and development, but will also provide a workforce training capability for the newly-created high-technology jobs being located at the Arsenal.

Vistec Lithography, Inc. (U.S. successor to Leica Microsystems Lithography) is noted for the production and development of the most advanced electron-beam lithography equipment and its newest product lines that include a 300mm wafer technology used to produce complex integrated circuits at the nanoscale level.

As one of the world's leading developers and manufacturers of advanced electron-beam tools critical to the future of nanotechnology, Vistec is targeting emerging business applications, in nanotechnology, biomolecular, bioelectronics, next generation lithography mask-making, silicon direct-write (defense/aerospace), telecommunications, micro-optics, and micromechanics markets.

At an afternoon news conference at Albany NanoCollege, Silver and Canestrari announced that Vistec will be relocating its global headquarters from Cambridge in the United Kingdom to Watervliet over a five-year period as part of its partnership with the Arsenal and Business Technology Partnership (ABTP) and the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) of the University at Albany. Vistec is expected to invest $125 million at the Arsenal Campus and will create 130 high-technology jobs.

"This is exceptional news for this part of the state. Today's announcement continues our efforts to put this region on the map as a center for new technology development, research and manufacturing. This is another sign of our region's ability to attract companies that use the latest and most sophisticated technologies and confirms the key role the Arsenal Campus and the UAlbany NanoCollege and our other supporting institutions have in the future of our community's economic vitality and success. We look forward to the job opportunities generated by the nanotechnology presence as well as the retention of our young people who won't be forced to leave town to find a good job," said Canestrari, who represents Watervliet, the Watervliet Arsenal Complex and several surrounding communities.

"Vistec's decision to relocate its operations from the United Kingdom to the Capital District because of the significant investment the state is making in the nanotechnology industry is very encouraging. Not only are we establishing a reputation as a leader in one of the most promising and cutting edge, high-tech industries in the world, but we also are on our way to creating a vibrant high-technology corridor comprised of companies that offer solid employment opportunities, good pay, benefits and a future for New Yorkers," said Silver, who praised Canestrari for his vision and pursuit of making the Capital District region a center for nanotechnology.

"If you want to make movies you go to Hollywood, and if you want to work in nanotechnology, then you come to Albany. In New York State, you have visionary political leaders like Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assemblyman Ron Canestrari who have passion and a long term commitment to see success through as well as technology leaders like Dr. Alain Kaloyeros who can bring technology, industry and the university together as a partnership. Simply, we want to be around winners," said Papken S. DerTorossian, President and Chairman of the Board of Vistec Lithography, Inc.

"Speaker Silver and Assemblyman Canestrari's leadership is sending a clear message around the world that New York State is the place to do nanotechnology research as well as do manufacturing. Visctec's decision to relocate its R&D at the College as well as its manufacturing at the Arsenal is a new model for the industry. We look forward to our partnership with Vistec Lithography under the leadership of Papken Der Torossian, one of the icons of the nanoelectronics industry," said Alain E. Kaloyeros, Ph.D. Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of the UAlbany College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering.

"This is a great success for our site, for the region and for the state. We are going to build on this momentum to achieve even more success. Our partnership with the New York State Assembly, the UAlbany NanoCollege and Vistec will be paying dividends for years to come," said Tony Gaetano, President of the Arsenal Business and Technology Partnership.

"Today's announcement reinforces the Watervliet Arsenal's growing reputation as a center of research and development, high-end manufacturing and a source of economic strength for this region. The Arsenal, a facility with a long and storied past, is building a future again tied to a highly trained, hard-working and talented workforce," said Canestrari.

Vistec will lease approximately 25,000 square feet of space in the Arsenal’s Building 125 where renovations have already begun to equip the building with clean rooms, offices and production space. ABTP and Vistec will work jointly to build state-of-the-art facilities to house the Vistec Vector Beam global headquarters and engineering and manufacturing operation. The company's engineering systems are expected to attract other nanotechnology and nanoelectronics businesses and industries to the Arsenal Campus, Canestrari said.

As a worldwide leader in advanced nanolithography systems that provide nanoelectronics in areas such as semiconductors, magnetic storage, bioelectronics and optoelectronics, Vistec has approximately 150 European employees. Its facilities are not only in England but also Jena, Germany. U.S. sales and service operations are located in Chantilly, Virginia; and Fremont, California as well as a Europe/Asia sales and service center in Best, the Netherlands.

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