SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 1, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq:AEIS), a leader in power conversion solutions, announced today that it will launch the Ascent® AMS DC power solution at the 55th annual SVC TechCon 2012 conference scheduled for May 1-2 in Santa Clara, California. Sponsored by Society of Vacuum Coaters, the event is one of the largest thin-films coating technology tradeshows in North America.

This newest addition to AE's leading DC platform incorporates the company's patented Arc Management System™ technology engineered specifically for arc-sensitive PVD processes, including large-area sputtering in applications such as solar PV and flat panel display manufacturing. Ascent AMS power supplies deliver stable, repeatable power regardless of process material or cathode design. With capability such as the lowest published arc energy—less than 0.4 mJ per kW—customers can minimize and successfully manage arcs in arc-prone environments using materials such as AZO and IGZO. This new product will be available in 30, 40, and 60 kW models.

Yuval Wasserman, president of Advanced Energy Thin Films, said, "AE continues to build on its industry-leading product platforms with new solutions that deliver high-value technological advantage to our customers. The Ascent AMS product leverages the innovative power technologies that AE has developed over our long history in power conversion for reactive sputtering. These patented features contribute to stable power delivery performance required for uniform, ultra-thin films in a solution designed for low cost of ownership. AE remains at the forefront of new technology development, working closely with our customers to deliver highly differentiated solutions that enable their next-generation processes."

SVC TechCon Show Highlights

AE experts will be available at the company's booth (#317, Santa Clara Convention Center) to discuss the latest advancements in vacuum coating technologies. In addition to the new Ascent AMS, the company will showcase its established, market-leading power-delivery systems, including:

• Paramount® RF power delivery platform, including the new Paramount VHF, featuring a flexible digital architecture, pulsing and pulse synchronization, frequency tuning and a highly developed arc management system;
   
• Navigator® II digital matching network, incorporating a new, tune-while-pulsing Pure Pulsed Plasma™ capability for highly stable plasma and smooth power delivery. The Navigator II product extends real-time plasma characterization via self-diagnostics and advanced metrology, and enhances accuracy via digital sensor technology; and
   
• Sekidenko optical fiber thermometers (OFT) delivering high-speed, multi-channel temperature and emissivity measurement and control across multiple processes and substrates.     

Technology Forums

In addition to our technology showcase in the exhibition hall, the company is pleased to participate in the following technology forums:

• "Advances in Power Supplies for High Arc Rate Applications," presented by Hendrik Walde, member of AE Thin Films Technical Staff
   
• "Self-Contained Plasma Source for Remote and Projected Plasma Generation," presented by Dan Carter, member of AE Thin Films Technical Staff
   
• "The Pulsed-DC Advantage: Improve Film Quality and Reduce Downtime in Reactive Sputtering Applications," poster session hosted by Doug Pelleymounter, AE Thin Films Field Applications Engineer
   
• "Next-Generation Arc Management: Precision DC Power Solutions to Manage Arcs for New Materials in Thin-Film PVD Applications," poster session hosted by Skip Larson, AE Thin Films Director of Product Marketing
   
• "Power Supplies, Hardware and Associated Components for Efficient and Stable Plasma Generation," Meet-the-Experts Corner session hosted by Dan Carter, member of AE's Thin Films Technical Staff

About Advanced Energy

Advanced Energy (Nasdaq:AEIS) is a global leader in innovative power and control technologies for high-growth, thin-film manufacturing and solar-power generation. Advanced Energy is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado with dedicated support and service locations around the world. For more information, go to www.advanced-energy.com.                                        

CONTACT: Cathy Kawakami
         Director, Corporate Communications
         Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
         +1. 970.407.6732