Newport Agrees to Sell Robotics Operation

Newport Corp. of Irvine, Calif., has entered into an agreement to sell its robotic systems operation, which has been discontinued since the first quarter of 2005. Located in Richmond, Calif., the operation provides wafer-handling subsystems to the semiconductor equipment industry. Newport will retain ownership of the motion stage systems manufactured at the facility and will continue to sell, service and support them. The divestiture will enable the company to focus on its core products, which include lasers, optics and optical subassemblies.