Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding (MES) and LTD Ceramics Inc. have announced the signing of a technology transfer agreement under which LTD will license its ceramics manufacturing technology to MES. This alliance will enable the manufacture of low-cost ceramic products in China while maintaining copy-exact standards. Sales and marketing activities will be jointly managed by the two companies to maximize the potential for reaching global and regional semiconductor equipment manufacturers. Engineering and manufacturing development will commence immediately in the U.S., Japan and China, and sites are being identified in China for manufacturing. The target date for completion of the manufacturing infrastructure is April 2004.