Dow Becomes First Materials Supplier to Install 193 nm Immersion Scanner in Korea [#DowInvestorDay]

Dow Electronic Materials, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW), today announced plans to install a Nikon 193 nm immersion scanner and 300 mm tool cluster in its new Dow Seoul Technology Center (DSTC). This investment makes Dow Electronic Materials the only photoresist supplier in the world with a 193i application and development facility in Korea.

Today, Dow is the only global supplier with two 193 nm immersion scanners available to support customers’ development efforts, with one already running in its Marlborough, Mass., facility. Dow also has a 193 nm dry scanner at its Cheonan, Korea facility and the combination of these investments enable Dow to significantly shorten both product development cycle times and manufacturing lead times to meet customers more advanced requirements.

In a related development, the company is also expanding its advanced photoresist manufacturing capacity at its operations in Cheonan, Korea. Increasing volume capacity for photoresist and ancillary materials allows Dow Electronic Materials to enhance customer responsiveness, shorten cycle time to market and support market share growth. Key products to be manufactured in Korea are Dow’s 193 dry photoresist, 193i photoresist and anti-reflective coatings. The Cheonan facility started its production ramp up in 2011 and will continue to expand capacity through late 2012.

“We are continuing to see strong growth in Asia, especially for photoresists and related materials,” said Sam Shoemaker, global general manager for Dow Electronic Materials’ Semiconductor Technologies business. Shoemaker continued, “As a result, we have made substantial investments in support of our Electronic Materials business in the region. Installing these tools for customer R&D efforts in Korea and increasing our volume manufacturing capacity in Cheonan are major steps forward in our continued efforts to exceed the expectations of our customers worldwide. These investments in Korea extend our lead in providing worldwide customer support for advanced lithography.”

About The Dow Chemical Company

Dow (NYSE:DOW) combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2010, Dow had annual sales of $53.7 billion and employed approximately 50,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 35 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

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