Business: Security & Fire Exhibition India 2008: for security related info

Mumbai, India, (ANTARA News/PRNewswire-AsiaNet) - UBM India, a subsidiary of United Business Media Ltd. (LON: UBM), has today announced IFSEC India 2008.

To be held between 16 and 18 October 2008 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India, the event is one of South Asia's leading trade fair of its kind, which will deliver to end users and suppliers a unique communication platform which includes an exhibition and conference. This year will see the inclusion of FIREX India 2008 into the event.

IFSEC India 2008 is part of IFSEC, held annually for the past 36 years at Birmingham, UK which attracts more than 30,000 trade visitors and is recognized as the world's leading Security and Fire exhibition.

"The security market in India is growing at a tremendous rate and there is a continuous demand for high standard security across industries and the Government. IFSEC India 2008 is an exceptional platform that gives an opportunity to security solution companies to showcase various products. The response and reach that we as an exhibitor get here, is impressive, extremely client centric and productive. We are proud to be a part of IFSEC India 2008 and are excited about showcasing our 'next level' of innovations at the exhibition, which we are certain will exceed our expectations," Says Mr. David I. Hudson MBE, Regional President, Group 4 Securicor Pvt Ltd.

This year will see the event build on IFSEC India 2007, which saw participation of over 170 companies from 20 countries and more than 8,000 business visitors worldwide. It also played host to the 14th Annual APSA International Conference entitled, "Security on Tap: Comprehensive Concepts and Technology for a safer Tomorrow", which comprised of participants from 10 countries. It also hosted The Internal Security Conference entitled "Meeting the Challenge of Terrorism", which was open only to the police & organized on behalf of the Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D).

Informs Deepak Thakur, Director South Asia, Honeywell Security, "Honeywell will continue to showcase new products and solutions, equipped with state of the art technologies through events such as IFSEC India 2008. This event has been a successful platform for Honeywell to exhibit our domain expertise to our customers across various verticals, year-on-year. We are pleased with our association with such an esteemed exhibition in India."

Added Anindya Sarangi, Project Director, UBM India, "Visitors to the event will be looking at IFSEC India 2008 as a single point where they will be able to access the latest products and trends in the security industry. The event will build upon its predecessor and will be positioned as an international forum for enabling existing relations with customers as well as develop new business contacts."

FIREX India 2008 will focus on the various dimensions of fire protection and a dedicated hall has been earmarked for the same. Supporting this event is one of India's foremost trade associations, The Fire and Safety Association of India (FSAI).

Set-up in 2002 with a core objective is to promote best practice, high ethical standards and awareness of the science of fire safety in India, FSAI in association with FIREX India 2008, with provide valuable influence and promotional opportunities to the fire safety community in the country.

"The management of FSAI and its members are excited about being associated with FIREX India 2008 and IFSEC India 2008, which are considered to be premium events in the fire and security sectors. Combined with the strengths of the events and the growth of the FSAI, we will be able to add great value to the Indian fire safety and security industry by sharing knowledge with world leaders from across the globe," confirms Arun Khazanchi, President, FSAI.

IFSEC India 2008 and FIREX India 2008 are organized by UBM India, a subsidiary of United Business Media plc, one of the world's leading global business information companies. The events will take place from 16-18 October 2008 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

For more information and to register for free entry, please visit www.ifsecindia.com. Companies interested in exhibiting at the event should contact Anindya Sarangi on + 91 22 66122644 or anindyas@ubmindia.com, or Charlie Cracknell on +44 (0) 207 921
8069 or ccracknell@cmpi.biz.

Notes to Editors

About United Business Media Limited

United Business Media Limited is a leading global business media company. We inform markets and bring the world's buyers and sellers together at events, online, in print, and with the information they need to do business successfully. We focus on serving professional commercial communities, from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewellery traders, from farmers to pharmacists around the world.

Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organised into specialist teams that serve these communities, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.

For more information, go to www.unitedbusinessmedia.com
For further information please contact:
In India: Anindya Sarangi, Project Director, CMP India,
Tel: +91-22-6612-2600
Email: anindyas@ubmindia.com
In UK: Jo Hudson, PR & Communications Executive CMP Information
Tel: +44-0-20-7921-8067
Email: johudson@cmpi.biz
Web site: http://www.ifsecindia.com
http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com /
SOURCE UBM India

Business: Global Datacenter, President Systems announce partnership

London, (ANTARA News/PRNewswire-AsiaNet) - Global DataCenter Management (GDCM), the leading provider of data centre management solutions has today announced a strategic partnership with APW President Systems, a provider of data centre infrastructure, to distribute its nlyte(TM) solution across India.

APW President Systems will be solely responsible for engaging new customers in the region, managing local implementation and providing ongoing support.

nlyte(TM) is aimed at helping organisations achieve a complete view of their data centres, allowing them to intelligently manage power consumption, reduce greenhouse emissions and increase the lifetime of assets, among other benefits.

Pramod Agashe, Chief Operating Officer, APW President Systems, said: "We see our partnership with GDCM as an opportunity to offer our customers the next generation of data centre management systems to take their planning and green IT strategies to the next level. As an established leader in the data centre infrastructure management space, APW President Systems has been innovating for over 26 years to help customers in planning and maintaining high energy efficiency levels, optimising space for their equipment, and monitoring and supporting them in managing their data centre assets."

nlyte(TM) is the only data centre management tool to provide an intelligent and automated view of all physical and virtual assets and virtual workgroups within the data centre, using a web-based graphical user interface.

Designed to help data centre managers make the most of their IT investments while minimising complexity and costs, it allows companies to model and manage their hardware, capacity, power, cooling, networking and space, reduce redundancy, enhance optimization and pro-actively forecast and plan the deployment of their assets.

Michael Evans, CEO of GDCM, said: "As India's economy continues to grow at an exponential rate and issues associated with power supplies and the hot climate continue, organisations in the country have become in need of solutions which will allow them to manage their data centre environments and control power and cooling requirements. We look forward to working in partnership with APW President Systems to enable businesses to overcome these challenges by using nlyte and we recognise APW President Systems as a natural extension of GDCM."

About Global DataCenter Management Limited (GDCM)

Global DataCenter Management (GDCM) was founded in 2003 with the aim of allowing organisations to increase efficiency and reduce cost within data centers - as well as to reducing power consumption and addressing environmental obligations.

Today, GDCM provides data center software and consultancy services designed to help data center managers make the most of their IT investments while minimizing complexity and costs. GDCM's flagship product, nlyte(TM), is the only data center management tool to provide an intelligent and automated view of all physical and virtual assets and workgroups within the data center.

http://www.gdcm.com/

About APW President Systems

APW President Systems Ltd (popularly known as President Systems) is a leader in the enclosure systems segment, with over 500 customers in India and abroad. Over the last 26 years, the company has established a reputation for high quality and reliability of products and services that address the infrastructure requirements of IT / ITES, Telecom and General Electronics customers.

http://www.apwpresident.com
For further media information, please contact:
Caroline Power,
Band and Brown Communications,
Dl: +44(0)207-419-7309,
caroline@bbpr.com .
SOURCE: GDCM

High-Tech: Rohm and Haas opens Asia technical center in Taiwan

Rohm and Haas opens Asia technical center to support leading-edge CMP applications facility co-located with Asia-Pacific manufacturing facility in Hsinchu; further increases regional capabilities for CMP

Hsincu, Taiwan (BUSINESS WIRE) - Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials (NYSE:ROH), CMP Technologies, a leader and innovator in chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) technology for the global semiconductor industry, today announced the opening of its new Asia Technical Center (ATC) in Hsinchu, Taiwan.

The ATC allows CMP Technologies to collaborate more closely with Asian-based customers to help optimize advanced CMP processes and consumable sets, as well as provide engineering and technical support throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

The ATC features an applications laboratory offering 300 mm CMP polishing capability and state-of-the-art 300 mm metrology in class 10 and class 1000 cleanroom facilities with room for future expansion.

Developed to support the world's leading semiconductor manufacturers, the ATC is currently engaging with key customers for advanced technology and next generation CMP applications such as advanced node 32nm and 22nm ultra low K Cu, shallow trench isolation (STI), Tungsten (W) polish and interlayer dielectric (ILD).

The ATC also houses CMP Technologies' Applications Engineering and Technical Service Groups for the Asia-Pacific region, and is in the process of adding another analytical lab for slurry and pad product characterization.

"Taiwan is the largest producer of semiconductor devices in the world, due to its strong mix of logic and memory operations," said Mario Stanghellini, executive vice president and general manager, Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials, CMP Technologies, Asia.

"The new ATC gives us a critical ability, unmatched in the region, to work with these manufacturers to develop and optimize CMP consumable sets and processes that directly improve their bottom line."

"Our ATC is designed and staffed to support customers on commercial products while being flexible to rapidly engage on new technologies," said Wei-Chung Yu, director, Asia Technology.

"We are able to provide our customers with real-time evaluation and feedback, which can reduce their cycle time and enable faster implementation of advanced technologies. The ATC, along with our local engineering and technical support teams, also allows us to be more responsive to customer needs by offering support in the same time zone, same language and same culture."

An integral part of the CMP Technologies global technology network, the ATC works closely with the laboratories in the U.S. to support the applications and development needs of its customers. The ATC is located in the CMP Technologies' Asia-Pacific Manufacturing and Technical Center in Hsinchu. The shared facility ensures that customers have direct access to all products and services in a single location.

The Hsinchu site is ISO 9001 and ISO 14000 certified, and adheres to Six-Sigma principles for all operations, including manufacturing, supply chain management, advanced research and development, CMP applications engineering, technical service and sales support.

About Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials

Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials develops and delivers innovative material solutions and processes to the electronic and optoelectronic industries. Focused on the circuit board, semiconductor manufacturing, advanced packaging, and display industries, its products and technologies are integral elements in electronic devices around the world.

Additional information can be found at www.rohmhaas.com.

The CMP Technologies business has been a leader and innovator in polishing technology for the global semiconductor industry since 1969.

CMP Technologies products include polishing pads, conditioners and slurries. CMP Technologies maintains operations throughout the world, including manufacturing facilities in Newark, Delaware, Hsinchu, Taiwan and in the Mie and Kyoto prefectures in Japan.

About Rohm and Haas Company

Leading the way since 1909, Rohm and Haas (NYSE:ROH) is a global pioneer in the creation and development of innovative technologies and solutions for the specialty materials industry. The company's technologies are found in a wide range of industries including: Building and Construction, Electronics and Electronic Devices, Household Goods and Personal Care,
Packaging and Paper, Transportation, Pharmaceutical and Medical, Water, Food and Food Related, and Industrial Process.

Innovative Rohm and Haas technologies and solutions help to improve life every day, around the world. Based in Philadelphia, Pa., the company generated annual sales of approximately $8.9 billion in 2007. Visit www.rohmhaas.com for more information. Imagine the possibilities.

Forward-Looking Statement
This release includes forward-looking statements. Actual results could vary materially, due to changes in current expectations. The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement concern new technologies, products, product performance, corporate plans and development and involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change.

Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials, CMP Technologies
Karen M. Winkelman, 602-470-4418 kmwinkelman@rohmhaas.com
or
In Taiwan: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials
Elysia Hsieh, 886-3-5721554, ext. 315
elysiahsieh@rohmhaas.com or
Impress Public Relations Martijn Pierik, 602-366-5599
martijn@impress-pr.com

Business: Asia-Pac contact centre industry unaffected by US Woes

Singapore (BUSINESS WIRE) - The current economic slump in the US has not had a major impact on the Asia-Pacific contact centre applications market in 2007. Except for the Philippines where some deals were deferred, almost all other Asia-Pac countries saw contact centres increasing their investments on equipment and applications to improve customer interaction services.

Revenues in the Asia-Pac contact centre applications market rose 12.2 per cent (year-on-year) in 2007, and is expected to grow by 14.2 per cent this year.

Frost & Sullivan however believes that if the US financial crisis continues, demand for contact centre applications will dive in late 2008 and 2009, especially from the BFSI (banking, financial services and insurance) sector.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.enterprisecommunications.frost.com), Asia Pacific Contact Centre Applications Market, finds that the market - covering 14 Asia-Pacific countries - earned revenues of US$665.4 million in 2007 and estimates this to reach US$1.31 billion by end-2014, at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 10.2 per cent (2007-2014).

The top three markets by revenue in 2007 were Japan which accounted for about 24.9 per cent (US$165.5 million), followed by India at 17.8 per cent (US$118.6 million) and Australia at 15.3 per cent (US$101.7 million).

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides service providers, vendors/manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview of the Asia-Pacific contact centre applications market, then send an e-mail to Sarah Lourdes at sarah.lourdes@frost.com, with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address. Upon receipt of the above information, an overview will be sent to you by e-mail.

"Customer service has taken high priority amongst organisations in Asia," says Frost & Sullivan industry manager Shivanu Shukla. "Business users are placing greater emphasis on contact centre performance, thus investing more on sophisticated applications such as quality monitoring, voice portals and analytics solutions."

According to the study, other key growth drivers include strong economic growth in Asia-Pacific driving new call centre set-ups and expansion in some countries, the migration to IP driving upgrades and replacements, as well as offshoring business from high-cost markets such as the US and Europe.

Shukla notes, "The call centre industry saw robust growth in the ASEAN region by way of new greenfield sites, over and above expansions and upgrades.

"Offshoring and outsourcing operations continue to thrive in the Philippines, India, Malaysia and China, as more deals were seen from the US and Europe due to the cost-friendly factors such as cheaper labour and overheads of Asian outsourcing hubs," he says, adding that the credit crunch in the US is expected to drive more growth in the offshoring business as cost reduction takes top priority for US businesses.

Countries like Malaysia gained stronger traction from other ASEAN countries, while China continues to add momentum from its burgeoning domestic contact centre needs, as well as from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Mature contact centre markets such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore and South Korea saw increasing migration towards IP-based contact centre solutions. In fact, these countries experienced a higher degree of replacement and upgrade exercises by existing contact centres, rather than new centre developments.

In 2007, uptake of contact centre solutions in the government sector saw a marked increase, particularly in the mature markets, as citizen emergency help lines, tax offices and other sites supporting such e-Government initiatives got underway.

Shukla believes that self-service contact centre applications and unified contact centre solutions will see greater adoption as the need to keep labour overheads low and the merits of unified communications become increasingly apparent.

The Asia Pacific Contact Centre Applications Market study is part of the Enterprise Communications Growth Partnership Service program, which also includes research in the following markets: hosted contact centres, UC quarterly trackers, UC end user studies (selected countries), enterprise telephony, managed telephony services, and conferencing and collaboration.
All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Analyst interviews are available to the press.

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, partners with clients to accelerate their growth. The company's TEAM Research, Growth Consulting and Growth Team Membership empower clients to create a growth-focused culture that generates, evaluates and implements effective growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan employs over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 30 offices on six continents.

For more information about Frost & Sullivan's Growth
Partnerships, visit http://www.frost.com. Frost & SullivanSarah
Lourdes, +603.6207.1030 Corporate Communications - Asia Pacific
sarah.lourdes@frost.com

Business in Asia Today - July 15, 2008

INDIAN TELCOM MAJOR BSNL TO INVEST US$1.2 BLN ON WIMAX PROJECT
New Delhi (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - India's largest telecom company by revenue Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd plans to invest around Rs 50 billion (US$1.2 billion) on its WiMax project.
BSNL Director (Finance) S D Saxena said the company aims to roll out wireless broadband connectivity through WiMax technology commercially this year, especially in urban areas.
It will begin its operations in three states -- Maharashtra (excluding Mumbai), Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.

RIO TINTO TO SPEND US$500 MLN UPGRADING PILBARA POWER SOURCES
Sydney (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) plans to invest more than US$500 million on upgrading its power sources in the Pilbara region of Western Australia to support its expanding iron ore operations.
It will build generation and transmission infrastructure near Karratha worth US$503 million to supply electricity to its port and mine operations.
The new power station will be constructed adjacent to the 7 Mile Rail Operations site.
Rio Tinto will also build a 220 kilovolt power line from the new power station, to be commissioned in 2010, to Cape Lambert.

HYUNDAI MOTOR BEGINS PRODUCTION AT 2ND ENGINE PLANT IN INDIA
Seoul (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Hyundai Motor Co. (KSE:005380) said Tuesday it has started commercial production at its second engine plant in India, as part of the South Korean automakers plan to drive up small-car sales in one of the world's fastest-growing auto markets.
Hyundai aims to make its Indian plants the global hub of its compact car production.
The company spent US$421 million building the new production facility, which will bring Hyundai's engine production capacity in India to 570,000 units from 320,000.

INDONESIAN BANKS' NET PROFIT DOWN 1.44%
Jakarta (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - The net profit of banks operating in Indonesia fell 1.44 per cent to Rp15.21 trillion (US$1.65 billion) in the first five months of this year compared to the same period last year.
The drop was contributed largely by foreign banks which recorded a 50.42 per cent decrease in net profit to Rp818 billion, the newspaper Investor Daily reported quoting data from Bank Indonesia.
Foreign joint venture banks and state banks also recorded a decline in net profit down 7.72 per cent to Rp717 billion and 1.87 per cent to Rp5.33 trillion respectively.

HOKKAIDO ELECTRIC SEES US$320 MLN NET LOSS FOR FY08
Tokyo (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Hokkaido Electric Power Co. (TSE:9509) said Monday it expects to incur a group net loss of 34 billion yen (US$320.82 million) for the year through March 2009, citing higher fuel prices and plant upgrade costs.
The latest forecast marks a sharp turnaround from an earlier projection of a 4 billion yen net profit.
The net loss would be the company's first since fiscal 1951. Sales will likely rise 8 per cent on the year to 615 billion yen due to an increase in homes that rely solely on electricity instead of gas, stronger demand among steelmakers and rising electricity rates.

EMAAR TO PUMP IN US$150 MLN ON INDIAN REAL ESTATE JV
New Delhi (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Real estate developer Emaar MGF has got a commitment of receiving a US$150 million fund infusion from Dubai-based Emaar by selling the firm a stake in some of its projects in India.
The investment comes at a time when the joint venture, in which Emaar has a 43 per cent stake and the Indian partner MGF holds 52 per cent, is trying to recover from the setback of postponing its IPO.
The company now plans to float the public issue sometime next year. It had withdrawn the proposed issue in February after it was under-subscribed due to a market slump.

JAPAN'S GS YUASA TO PRODUCE FORKLIFT BATTERIES IN THAI JV
Kyoto (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - GS Yuasa Corp. (TSE:6674) announced plans on Monday to produce batteries for forklifts at a Thai plant to be operated jointly with a local automaker.
The facility is scheduled to go online next spring with an initial capacity of roughly 200,000 units.
Output will be increased to 400,000 units by fiscal 2013, or enough to supply about 16,000 forklifts.
GS Yuasa Siam Industry Ltd. will build the 500 million yen (US$4.71 million) plant in Chachoengsao Province, located east of Bangkok.

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS, SDI PLAN TO SET UP OLED VENTURE: SOURCES
Seoul (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Samsung Electronics Co. (KSE:05930) plans to set up a joint venture with its sister unit Samsung SDI Co. (KSE:006400) to cooperate in the development of displays used in handsets and small televisions, informed sources said Tuesday.
The two companies recently agreed on the 50-50 venture, tentatively named Samsung Mobile Display, and plan to hold respective board meetings later in the month to finalize the agreement, according to a Samsung Electronics official who declined to be named.
The joint venture is expected to focus on developing active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AM OLED) displays, which are used in portable devices such as mobile phones and small TVs.

AUSTRALIA'S ALLIED BRANDS CONFIDENT OF STRONG FY09 PROFIT GROWTH
Sydney (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Franchisor Allied Brands (ASX:ABQ) said it was confident of significantly increasing its revenue and profits in fiscal 2009.
The firm behind Baskin-Robins and Cookie Man also confirmed its fiscal 2008 annual profit forecast and announced an on-market buy-back of up to 10 per cent of its shares.
Allied Brands managing director Peter Graham said the company has finished the 2007/08 year on a very strong note and goes into the 2008/09 financial year very confident of significantly increasing revenue and profits.
The firm said it anticipated 450 per cent growth in fiscal 2008 profit boosted by record organic growth in store numbers and record revenue growth.

CHINA'S COAL EXPORTS SURGE 83% IN JUNE
Beijing (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - China's coal export in June surged 83 per cent over the same period of last year to 6.99 million tons, at an average export price of US$115.89 per ton, according to Chinese Customs.
The June figure accounted for more than 27 per cent of the first half total, which amounted to 25.49 million tons or a 10.2 per cent increase year on year.
Accordingly, a net export, at 3.94 million tons, was again seen for the first half.
China's coal imports in the first half stood at 21.55 million tons, down 20 per cent year on year.

Source:
Business in Asia Today - July 15, 2008
published by Asia Pulse

Technology: ASML extends immersion to the limit of single-patterning lithography

New TWINSCAN XT:1950i offers 25 percent performance improvement and enables world-leading sub 40 nm volume chip imaging

VELDHOVEN, the Netherlands, July 15, 2008 – ASML Holding NV (ASML) announces today its newest TWINSCANTM XT:1950i lithography system using a 1.35 NA lens – increasing the performance of its immersion lithography systems by 25%. The system offers improved overlay, resolution and throughput, to enable high-volume manufacturing of more powerful 38 nanometer (nm) memory and ‘32’ nm logic semiconductors.

The XT:1950i is the industry’s first single-exposure immersion lithography system for high volume manufacturing at 38 nanometers — a shrink that makes 10% more wafer area available for chips over the XT:1900i. In addition the XT:1950i offers an unmatched productivity increase — close to 15% — with its high throughput of 148 wafers per hour. With improvements in imaging, overlay, stability and control, the XT:1950i is the world's most advanced volume lithography system, enabling the highest resolution and throughput for maximum value of ownership.

“High-throughput immersion lithography is required for the semiconductor industry to keep up with Moore’s law in a timely and cost effective manner,” stated Martin van den Brink, ASML’s executive vice president of marketing and technology. “Shrink is needed to boost memory capacities and multimedia applications for DRAM and Flash, and drive advanced integration and improved functionality for logic applications such as computer chips and digital signal processors for portable devices.”

ASML also announces that it will introduce a comprehensive package of upgrades to increase the performance of its existing immersion systems TWINSCAN XT:1700i and XT:1900i. These upgrade packages, available from Q1 2009, will improve overlay by 14 and 17% and productivity by 4 and 7% respectively. The integrated product launch helps semiconductor manufacturers to optimize their existing investments, and increase the value and competitive edge of their products.

TWINSCAN XT:1950i Technology Advances

ASML’s TWINSCAN lithography systems continuously improve imaging, productivity, overlay and critical dimension uniformity (CDU) control because they are developed on a common platform with a modular approach, allowing new systems to inherit and build upon predecessor attributes. The XT:1950i offers the following improvements over the XT:1900i:

* 30% tighter overlay accuracy specification via improved stage control. This is important for chipmakers to improve the quality and value of chips on a wafer.
* Overall productivity increase of nearly 15% due to new immersion techniques and enhanced stages.
* Resolution improvement of 5% (from 40 to 38 nm), resulting in a 10% area increase, for higher yield and/or increased functionality such as higher density and capacity memory chips.
* The TWINSCAN XT:1950i provides a 3.5 nm overlay capability and will support low k1 applications.

ASML expects to begin shipping the XT:1950i by Q1 2009. ASML will partner closely with leading semiconductor companies, enabling them to begin early process development.

Immersion Lithography Rapid Market Growth led by ASML

Immersion lithography systems transfer patterns onto silicon wafers by projecting laser-generated light through highly purified water between the lens and the wafer, enabling chipmakers to print smaller features while using light with the same wavelength.

ArF immersion (ArFi) technology has become the de facto standard for enabling chip production at 55 nm and below. According to Gartner’s Q208 stepper unit forecast, the 193 nm ArFi system unit growth was over 75% in 2007, with a further 60% growth expected by the end of 2008 (Source: Stepper Market Forecast, Worldwide, Q208, Gartner, Inc.).

ASML, the worldwide leader in immersion lithography, was the first manufacturer to introduce immersion lithography, shipping its first TWINSCAN immersion system in 2004. ASML immersion system shipments continue to ramp up rapidly. By mid-2008, more than 100 immersion systems were shipped to 20 different customers. ASML immersion systems have imaged nearly 20 million wafers to date, resulting in hundreds of millions of electronic devices powered by immersion-manufactured chips.

About ASML

ASML is the world's leading provider of lithography systems for the semiconductor industry, manufacturing complex machines that are critical to the production of integrated circuits or chips. Headquartered in Veldhoven, the Netherlands, ASML is traded on Euronext Amsterdam and NASDAQ under the symbol ASML. ASML has more than 6,750 employees, serving chip manufacturers in more than 60 locations in 16 countries.

Media Relations Contacts

Lucas van Grinsven – Corporate Communications – +31 40 268 3949 – Veldhoven, the Netherlands

Investor Relations Contacts

Craig DeYoung – Investor Relations – +1 480 383 4005 – Tempe, Arizona, USA
Franki D’Hoore – Investor Relations – +31 40 268 6494 – Veldhoven, the Netherlands

Insurance: Liberty Mutual Group expands China operations with Beijing branch

Company gains approval from China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC)

Boston (BUSINESS WIRE) - Liberty Insurance Company Limited (LICL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Mutual Group, has been granted approval to establish a branch in Beijing by the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC).
Beijing is the first branch established by LICL in China and will offer various personal lines products, including auto, and a wide range of commercial lines products with a focus on small-to-medium enterprises.

"Over the past four years we have significantly increased our presence in Asia as part of an overall strategy of investment and growth for the future," said Liberty Mutual Group Chairman, President and CEO Edmund F. Kelly.

"CIRC approval of a Beijing branch marks another major step for us and is a result of the support provided by the Mayor of Chongqing and his city government throughout the approval process."

Liberty Mutual in China

Liberty Mutual has had a presence in China since 1996 when it opened a Representative Office in Shanghai. In December 2003, the company received approval to open its first insurance office in Chongqing, positioning Liberty Mutual as the first foreign property and casualty insurer with a presence in western China. In September 2007, Liberty Mutual received approval to have its Chongqing operation converted to a wholly owned subsidiary, which it named Liberty Insurance Company Limited. LICL is the only Fortune 500 company subsidiary headquartered in Chongqing.

About Liberty Mutual Group

Boston-based Liberty Mutual Group is a diversified global insurer and sixth largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. based on 2007 direct written premium. The Company also ranks 94th on the Fortune 500 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2007 revenue. As of December 31, 2007, Liberty Mutual Group had US$94.7 billion in consolidated assets, US$82.3 billion in consolidated liabilities, and US$25.9 billion in annual consolidated revenue.

Liberty Mutual Group offers a wide range of insurance products and services, including personal automobile, homeowners, workers compensation, commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, general liability, global specialty, group disability, assumed reinsurance, fire and surety.

Liberty Mutual Group (www.libertymutualgroup.com) employs over 41,000 people in more than 900 offices throughout the world.

Liberty Mutual Group
Richard Angevine, 617-574-6638
Richard.Angevine@libertymutual.com

Technology: IDO Security establishes foothold in mainland China

IDO Security establishes foothold in mainland China through distribution agreement with Chinese Security Giant Hwan Technology and Trade Co.
Leading purveyor of walk-through metal detectors to distribute revolutionary 'Shoes-On' weapons metal detection system for high-security needs rhroughout China

New York (ANTARA News/PRNewswire-AsiaNet) - IDO Security, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: IDOI), developer of the innovative MagShoe(TM) "shoes-on" weapons metal detection system, today announced a distribution agreement with Hwan Technology and Trade Co., one of China's largest distributors of walk-through metal detectors. Hwan will lead distribution efforts in mainland China for MagShoe, a patented security screening device for the lower body that instantly and accurately detects weapons and metal items concealed in footwear without requiring the removal of shoes. The agreement marks a powerful entry for IDO Security and MagShoe into the Chinese security market.

"IDO Security's MagShoe represents a significant breakthrough in the market, combining accuracy and convenience to deliver a more complete approach to safety and loss prevention," said Li Yundu, President of Hwan. "We are confident that the MagShoe system closes a critical gap in security screening -- and holds great potential to enhance security measures at airports, stadiums and other high-profile venues and events."

"As commercial demand for MagShoe grows, we continue to partner with the industry's most trusted distributors and system integrators to support a global client base that requires the utmost in security," said Ofer Michalovski, Director of Marketing of IDO Security. "We are proud to partner with Hwan -- one of the most well-respected, well-known names in the Chinese security market -- to make MagShoe available throughout the region."

About Hwan

Hwan Technology and Trade Co. is a leading provider of security equipment for the aviation, municipal, and other sectors. The company is one of China's largest distributors of walk-through metal detectors, and has been the exclusive distributor of industry-leading Rapiscan Metor in mainland China since 1997. www.huaweian.com

About IDO Security

Headquartered in New York with a subsidiary in Israel, IDO Security designs, develops and markets the patented MagShoe(TM) weapons metal detection system. MagShoe fills a critical void in today's metal detectors by extending screening to the lower body and feet. MagShoe's "shoes-on" design maximizes security, thoroughness and accuracy while eliminating the need to remove shoes for increased convenience and safety. Ideal for security and loss prevention at virtually any facility, MagShoe is currently in use at international airports, cruise lines, government agencies, private homes and more.
www.idosecurityinc.com

Forward Looking Statements: A number of statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. A safe-harbor provision may not be applicable to the forward-looking statements made in this press release because of certain exclusions under Section 27A (b). These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the sufficiency of existing capital resources, uncertainties related to the development of IDO's business plan, and the ability to secure additional sources of financing. The actual results that IDO may achieve could differ materially from any forward-looking statements due to such risks and uncertainties. IDO encourages the public to read the information provided here in conjunction with its most recent filings on Form 10-KSB and Form 10-QSB.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Kevin McLaughlin
609-279-0050 x102
kevin@resoundmarketing.com
COMPANY CONTACT:
Michael Goldberg
646-214-1234
mg@idosecurityinc.com

SOURCE: IDO Security, Inc.
CONTACT: Media - Kevin McLaughlin, +1-609-279-0050 x102,
kevin@resoundmarketing.com, for IDO Security; Michael
Goldberg, of
IDO Security, +1-646-214-1234, mg@idosecurityinc.com/
WEB SITE: http://www.idosecurityinc.com
http://www.huaweian.com/

Technology: Diary - ANEX '09 + Since '09 - an event not to be missed!

Shanghai (ANTARA News/PRNewswire-AsiaNet) - Preparations for next year's ANEX+SINCE 2009 are already well under way. To be held from 20 - 22 May 2009, in two separate exhibition halls, the INTEX Shanghai and Shanghaimart and covering a total area of 16,000 square meters, ANEX+SINCE 2009 will create a perfect platform for suppliers, manufacturers, new players and other related parties in the global nonwovens industry to grasp opportunities and find customers.

In the wake of global economic integration, the world economy has generally been on the rise for the past few years, with the Asian economic growth being particularly outstanding. Among the Asian Economies, the growth of China, India and Vietnam have astonished the world, with their GDPs having grown at the rate of 8% every year. The GDP of China has grown for over 10% in 2007. Hence, we can see that the Asian nonwovens industry is continuing to grow at a high speed.

ANEX'09 + SINCE'09 will showcase the latest developments in nonwoven applications and technological breakthroughs. It will unite leaders from all ranges of manufacturing, machinery and raw material supply with leading industry decision-makers, purchasing and sales professionals and key marketers. It will be one of the main focus of world's nonwovens industry and promises to be a top level quality event with excellent opportunities for networking and business development.

Bookings for stands at the show are filling up at a fast pace and the stand space at the two levels of INTEX Shanghai have completely filled up. Suppliers are strongly encouraged to ACT FAST now to ensure a prime location at the next hall in Shanghaimart.

ANEX'09 + SINCE'09 is organized by CNTA Science & Technology Co Ltd and CMP Asia Trade Fairs Pte Ltd. Sponsored by Asia Nonwovens Fabrics Association (ANFA) and China Technology Market Association (CTMA) and co-sponsored by European Disposables and Nonwovens Association (EDANA) and Association of The Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA).

For full details, please visit our show at www.anex2009.com or contact us at email: anex2009@cmpasia.com.sg.

SOURCE CMP
Asia Trade Fairs Pte Ltd
CONTACT: CMP Asia Trade Fairs Pte Ltd,
anex2009@cmpasia.com.sg
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080714
NYM061
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Web site: http://www.anex2009.com

Business: Tissue World Asia set to attract large crowd to Shanghai in November

Shanghai (ANTARA News/PRNewswire-AsiaNet) - The Tissue World Asia 2008 conference and exhibition looks as though it will once again be a very successful gathering of tissue makers and converters from around Asia and, in fact, from throughout the world. To be held in Shanghai on 19-21 November 2008 at the INTEX Shanghai, a crowd of between 3,000 to 4,000 participants is expected.

At the most recent event in 2006, a total of 3,382 visitors from an impressive 68 countries were on hand to meet the exhibitors, attend the technical conference and discuss the state of the dynamic and rapidly growing Asian tissue markets.

For tissue makers or companies considering entering the tissue business, Tissue World Asia 2008 offers a great opportunity to meet all the leading suppliers to the tissue industry who will be on hand to present their latest equipment, machinery, chemicals, services and solutions for the Asian market. Thus, in the space of three short days, tissue makers and converters can get updated on all the latest and newest
developments and trends.

All trade visitors from the tissue industry are invited to attend the exhibition free of charge. All that is required is registration of the visitor. For the technical conference, there is a nominal fee of USD 60 per delegate before October 2nd or USD 80 thereafter.

The Tissue World Asia Technical Conference will offer delegates a chance to hear about the latest new products and solutions aimed at helping Asian tissue makers get the most out of their operations. In total approximately 15-17 papers will be given over the 1 1/2 days of the conference, with sequential translation in English and Chinese.

To get more details about attending or exhibiting at this important event, please contact Eileen Tan, Head of Events (Tissue & Nonwovens), CMP Asia Trade Fairs Pte Ltd
Tel : (65) 68879321(DID), Fax : (65) 67389057
Email : eileen_tan@cmpasia.com.sg
Or visit our website at www.tissueworld.com.
Tissue World Asia, Shanghai, 19-21 November 2008
See you there!

SOURCE CMP Asia Trade Fairs Pte Ltd
CONTACT: Eileen Tan,
Head of Events (Tissue & Nonwovens),
CMP Asia Trade Fairs Pte Ltd,
+65-68879321(DID),
or Fax, +65-67389057,
eileen_tan@cmpasia.com.sg
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080714
NYM062
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Web site: http://www.tissueworld.com

Legal: Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati expands China practice

- Eva H. Wang Joins Shanghai Office -

Palo Alto, Calif. (ANTARA News/PRNewswire-AsiaNet) - Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, today announced that Eva H. Wang has joined the firm as a partner. Wang, who had been an associate at the firm earlier in her career, most recently served as general counsel and vice president of legal affairs at Spreadtrum Communications, a leading NASDAQ-listed Chinese semiconductor company focused on the wireless communications market. An expert in corporate and securities law with an emphasis on the technology sector, she will be based in the firm's Shanghai office.

"We are very pleased to welcome Eva back to Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati," said CEO John Roos. "Her impressive skills as a corporate attorney, her vast experience in China, and her familiarity with our firm make her a perfect fit."

"Eva is an extremely talented attorney with significant public company expertise," said partner Carmen Chang, leader of the firm's China practice. "Not only will she focus on our key clients in Shanghai, but she also will play a significant role in expanding the firm's practice in the region and mentoring our growing team."

As general counsel and vice president of legal affairs at Spreadtrum, Wang was responsible for oversight of the company's compliance with U.S. securities laws and export control regulations, stock exchange rules, laws and rules set forth by the People's Republic of China, and Spreadtrum's corporate governance policies. Among many other duties, she oversaw legal matters relating to the company's initial public offering, prepared and negotiated a variety of licensing and merger and acquisition agreements, and oversaw the implementation of the company's equity incentive plans.

Prior to joining Spreadtrum, Wang was an associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati's Palo Alto office and Shearman & Sterling's Menlo Park office. She represented U.S. and international technology companies in venture capital financings, acquisitions, public offerings, joint ventures, and other corporate matters. Earlier in her career, Wang had been an associate at Holland & Knight in New York. She earned her J.D. from New York University School of Law in 1998, and
graduated with honors and distinction from the University of Western Ontario in 1995 with a B.A. in economics with statistics. She is fluent in Mandarin and English.

About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati's broad range of services and legal disciplines is focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leader in the fields of corporate governance and finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, securities class action litigation, employment law, intellectual property, and antitrust, among many other areas of law. With long-standing roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati has offices in Austin, New York, Palo Alto, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Shanghai, and Washington, D.C. For additional information, please visit http://www.wsgr.com.

SOURCE Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
CONTACT: Alicia Towler White of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich &
Rosati,
+1-212-497-7774,
awhite@wsgr.com
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040225
SFWSGRLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk photodesk@prnewswire.com
Web site: http://www.wsgr.com