DANBURY, Conn., Aug. 25, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ATMI, Inc. (NasdaqGS:ATMI - News), a leading provider of high-performance materials, materials handling, and process efficiency solutions for the semiconductor and life science industries, today announced the ATMI AutoClean(tm) System has won R&D Magazine's prestigious ``R&D 100'' award, recognizing the 100 most technologically significant products introduced into the marketplace over the past year.

The ATMI AutoClean System eliminates the need for frequent dismantling and refurbishing of ion implantation equipment -- one of the specialized machines used to create electrical circuitry on semiconductors. By employing the AutoClean System directly with implanters, manufacturers can customize the timing and duration of cleaning to their own specific needs, thus reducing the frequency of preventive maintenance operations by as much as half and increasing the tool's availability for production runs.

Importantly, automated cleaning enhances safety by dramatically reducing human exposure to hazardous materials that build up with ion implanter use. Currently, these materials are physically scraped away by workers, resulting in solid waste that, itself, must be removed. Historically, semiconductor manufacturing facilities have dealt satisfactorily with gaseous waste, but they have had difficulty disposing of solid waste. The AutoClean System transforms the implanter solid waste build-up into a vapor that is subsequently converted into an inert substance for easier and safer removal. As a result, the frequency of hand scrubbing is reduced, significantly diminishing human exposure to toxic waste.

``When we envisioned the AutoClean solution, we understood it had to accomplish a number of important tasks,'' said Doug Neugold, ATMI's Chief Executive Officer. ``By making the cleaning process more predictable, ATMI enables semiconductor fabs to optimize the efficiency and productivity of their implant tools. That reduces the amount of hazardous byproducts. And since cleaning previously was done only by hand, the AutoClean System also dramatically reduces human exposure to waste materials. The R&D 100 award underscores the success we achieved in delivering all three benefits to our customers. Most critically, this product increases tool utilization and significantly contributes to the optimization of tool performance, thereby improving the economics of the implant process.''

Additional information on ATMI's AutoClean System is available at http://atmi.com/semiconductor/solution_autoclean.htm.

Termed the ``Oscars of Invention'' by the Chicago Tribune, the ``R&D 100'' awards showcase an array of innovations over its 45-year history -- ranging from automated teller machines and smoking cessation patches to cancer drugs and HDTV. More than 50 independent judges, impaneled for their areas of scientific expertise, examine award submissions for products and processes that ``change people's lives for the better, improve the standard of living for large numbers of people, save lives, promote good health (or) clean up the environment.'' From these semi-finalists, editors of R&D Magazine select the top 100 for ``technological significance.''

This is the third ATMI product to win R&D 100 recognition. In past years, the Company was honored for a high-precision liquid delivery system used in developing integrated circuits and for a gas purification technology used in semiconductor production.

ATMI provides specialty materials and high-purity materials handling and delivery solutions to the worldwide semiconductor industry. For more information, please visit atmi.com.

ATMI and AutoClean are trademarks or registered trademarks of Advanced Technology Materials, Inc. in the United States, other countries or both.

The ATMI, Inc. logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5254

Statements contained herein that relate to ATMI's future performance, including, without limitation, statements with respect to ATMI's anticipated results of operations or level of business for 2008 or any other future period, are forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on current expectations only and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including, but not limited to, changes in semiconductor industry growth (including, without limitation, wafer starts) or ATMI's markets; competition, problems, or delays developing, commercializing and delivering new products; problems or delays in integrating acquired operations and businesses; and, other factors described in ATMI's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and other subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. ATMI undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

         ATMI, Inc.
         Dean Hamilton, Director, Investor Relations & Corporate
          Communications
         203.207.9349
         203.794.1100 x4202
         dhamilton@atmi.com