SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Strasbaugh (OTC Bulletin Board: STRB) announced today the shipment of an nSpire R&D CMP system to China's Tianjin University of Technology in December, 2008.

The nSpire will be installed in one of Tianjin's high-tech research and development laboratories, expanding the University's semiconductor R&D capability. Strasbaugh's sales and service representative in China, the 45th Research Institute of CETC, will be responsible for providing service and support to Tianjin University.

"Compact and affordable, the nSpire is ideally suited for CMP consumables and process R&D," said Mike Kirkpatrick, Strasbaugh's Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "Equipped with advanced process technologies and controls, the nSpire provides the process tuning ability typically found in high-volume production equipment. However, the nSpire is very easy to use and to maintain, making it a great fit for a university environment."

"Tianjin's researchers are devoted to knowledge advancement," said Professor Zhang Kailiang of Tianjin University, "and seek out opportunities for better learning at home and abroad." The purchase of Strasbaugh's nSpire R&D CMP system creates another opportunity to exchange information about semiconductor CMP processes and technologies.

About Strasbaugh

Strasbaugh has 60 years of leadership in design and manufacturing of advanced surfacing technology for the global semiconductor, silicon, data storage, MEMS, LED, telecommunications and optics industries. Through close alliances with premier manufacturers in these high-technology markets, Strasbaugh has developed pioneering technology that has become the standard in polishing and grinding today. With high-quality grinding tools, state-of-the-art prime wafer polishing and chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) systems, as well as advanced wafer carriers and leading edge process technology, Strasbaugh has enabled its customers to realize their performance targets and has built a reputation as a world class manufacturer of innovative, reliable, high-yield surfacing solutions.

Headquartered in San Luis Obispo, CA, Strasbaugh supplies equipment worldwide through direct and representative sales and service offices located in the U.S., China, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, The Philippines, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.

About TianjinUniversity

Tianjin University of Technology (TUT), a major university founded by the Tianjin municipal government, is a public university approved by the State Council in 1981. As an engineering-based, multi-discipline university, it now has 16051 students, 988 teaching faculty and offers 45 Bachelor programs and 39 Master programs in areas such as science, engineering, humanities and management on 2 campuses.

TUT, adhering to a policy of combining teaching, research and application, has formed its own educational characteristics which are aimed at the cultivation of highly-devoted, career-oriented and advanced talents. To advance this aim, 156 fieldwork centers have already been established off campus by TUT. The University instituted The Second Campus Plan in connection with some influential corporations such as Motorola and others to intensify and foster students' abilities of putting their knowledge into practice. The primary task of the University has been to use advances in scientific research to enhance professors' teaching abilities, cultivate students' creative talents, promote multi-dimensional development and develop programs combining both major and minor programs. In order to meet the demands inherent in the globalization of education and economy, TUT cooperates with a number of foreign universities with the goal of cultivating advanced, application-oriented talents who are able to communicate cross culturally while possessing a global vision. There are presently over 1100 students engaged in exchange and cooperation programs with foreign universities and institutes.

SafeHarbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

With the exception of historical information, the matters discussed in this press release, including without limitation, statements regarding the relationship between Strasbaugh and the 45th Research Institute, are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The actual future results of Strasbaugh could differ from those statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the ability of Strasbaugh's to manufacture and deliver CMP products pursuant to the terms of the purchase order in China, the projected future demand for Strasbaugh's products, changes in technology and governmental regulations and policies, competitive products and services, unforeseen technical issues and those factors contained in the "Risk Factors" Section of Strasbaugh's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and other Strasbaugh filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    CONTACT:
    Sarah Okada
    Strasbaugh
    805.782.5416
    sokada@strasbaugh.com

    Paul Knopick
    E & E Communications
    949.707.5365
    pknopick@eandecommunications.com

SOURCE Strasbaugh