content: <PAGE>
   
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  
                              Washington, D. C.  20549
  
                                      FORM 8-K
  
                                   CURRENT REPORT
  
  
                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                          Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  
  
          Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  July 31, 1998
  
  
  
                              ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  
                                     CALIFORNIA
                   (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  
  
  
        0-22114                                       94-2944251
  (Commission File No.)                   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  
  
  
                                  48761 KATO ROAD
                             FREMONT, CALIFORNIA 94538
               (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
  
  
  
         Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (510) 661-5000
  
                                         1
  <PAGE>
   
       This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward looking statements that
  involve risks and uncertainties relating to the acquisition by Asyst
  Technologies, Inc., a California corporation ("Asyst"), of Hine Design
  Incorporated, a California corporation ("HDI"). Actual results and developments
  may differ materially from those described in this Current Report.  For more
  information about Asyst and risks relating to investing in Asyst, refer to
  Asyst's most recent reports on Form 10-Q  and Form 10-K.
  
  ITEM 2.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.
  
       On July 31, 1998, Asyst completed the acquisition of HDI by purchasing
  all of the outstanding capital stock of HDI. The acquisition was accomplished
  pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of July 2, 1998 (the "Purchase
  Agreement") among Asyst, HDI, and Derek and Susan Hine, Graham Hine, Roger
  Hine, and Michael and Laura Krolak (the "Shareholders"). In connection with
  the acquisition, Asyst paid approximately $11,300,000 in cash to the
  Shareholders in exchange for all of the shares of HDI capital stock outstanding
  on July 31, 1998 and assumed certain debt liabilities of HDI of approximately
  $11,700,000. Of the approximately $11,300,000 paid to the Shareholders,
  $1,912,503.29 is being held in escrow for one year to secure the obligations
  of the Shareholders to indemnify Asyst for any breaches of the representations
  and warranties of the Shareholders and HDI made in the Purchase Agreement. The
  acquisition will be accounted for as a purchase of assets. In addition to the
  payment of cash and the assumption of liabilities, Asyst granted options to
  purchase Asyst common stock in substitution for outstanding vested options to
  purchase capital stock of HDI worth approximately $1,000,000.
  
       HDI specializes in the design and manufacture of wafer and flat panel
  display material handling solutions for original equipment manufacturers.  Asyst
  currently intends to maintain HDI as a wholly-owned subsidiary and to have HDI
  continue to conduct its business as historically conducted.
  
       A copy of the press release announcing the signing of the Purchase
  Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference
  herein.  A copy of the press release announcing the consummation of the
  acquisition is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated by reference
  herein.
  
  
  ITEM 7.  EXHIBITS.
  
  Exhibit 
     No.    Description
  -------   -----------
  
    2.1     Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 2, 1998, among Asyst
            Technologies, Inc., a California corporation, Hine Design
            Incorporated, a California corporation, and the Shareholders of Hine
            Design Incorporated (the Disclosure Schedule and Exhibits A-I to the
            Stock Purchase Agreement have been omitted as permitted pursuant to
            the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
            ("SEC"), but will be furnished supplementally to the SEC upon
            request).
  
                                         2
  <PAGE>
   
     4.1  Reference is made to Exhibit 2.1.
  
    99.1  Press release announcing the execution of the Purchase Agreement.
  
    99.2  Press release announcing the consummation of the acquisition.
  
                                         3
  <PAGE>
   
                                     SIGNATURES
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
    registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
    undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
  
  
                                 ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  
  
  
  Dated:  August 14, 1998        By:   /s/Douglas J. McCutcheon
                                     --------------------------
                                     Douglas J. McCutcheon
                                     Senior Vice President
                                     and Chief Financial Officer
  
                                         4
  <PAGE>
   
                                   EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  
  Exhibit
     No.    Description
  -------   -----------
  
    2.1     Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 2, 1998, among Asyst
            Technologies, Inc., a California corporation, Hine Design
            Incorporated, a California corporation, and the Shareholders of Hine
            Design Incorporated (the Disclosure Schedule and Exhibits A-I to the
            Stock Purchase Agreement have been omitted as permitted pursuant to
            the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
            ("SEC"), but will be furnished supplementally to the SEC upon
            request).
  
    4.1     Reference is made to Exhibit 2.1.
  
   99.1     Press release announcing the execution of the Purchase Agreement.
  
   99.2     Press release announcing the consummation of the acquisition.
  
                                        1
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text: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  
                              Washington, D. C.  20549
  
                                      FORM 8-K
  
                                   CURRENT REPORT
  
                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                          Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  
          Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  July 31, 1998
  
                              ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
                                     CALIFORNIA
                   (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  
        0-22114                                       94-2944251
  (Commission File No.)                   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  
                                  48761 KATO ROAD
                             FREMONT, CALIFORNIA 94538
               (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
  
         Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (510) 661-5000
  
                                         1
  This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward looking statements that
  involve risks and uncertainties relating to the acquisition by Asyst
  Technologies, Inc., a California corporation ("Asyst"), of Hine Design
  Incorporated, a California corporation ("HDI"). Actual results and developments
  may differ materially from those described in this Current Report.  For more
  information about Asyst and risks relating to investing in Asyst, refer to
  Asyst's most recent reports on Form 10-Q  and Form 10-K.
  
  ITEM 2.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.
  
       On July 31, 1998, Asyst completed the acquisition of HDI by purchasing
  all of the outstanding capital stock of HDI. The acquisition was accomplished
  pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of July 2, 1998 (the "Purchase
  Agreement") among Asyst, HDI, and Derek and Susan Hine, Graham Hine, Roger
  Hine, and Michael and Laura Krolak (the "Shareholders"). In connection with
  the acquisition, Asyst paid approximately $11,300,000 in cash to the
  Shareholders in exchange for all of the shares of HDI capital stock outstanding
  on July 31, 1998 and assumed certain debt liabilities of HDI of approximately
  $11,700,000. Of the approximately $11,300,000 paid to the Shareholders,
  $1,912,503.29 is being held in escrow for one year to secure the obligations
  of the Shareholders to indemnify Asyst for any breaches of the representations
  and warranties of the Shareholders and HDI made in the Purchase Agreement. The
  acquisition will be accounted for as a purchase of assets. In addition to the
  payment of cash and the assumption of liabilities, Asyst granted options to
  purchase Asyst common stock in substitution for outstanding vested options to
  purchase capital stock of HDI worth approximately $1,000,000.
  
       HDI specializes in the design and manufacture of wafer and flat panel
  display material handling solutions for original equipment manufacturers.  Asyst
  currently intends to maintain HDI as a wholly-owned subsidiary and to have HDI
  continue to conduct its business as historically conducted.
  
       A copy of the press release announcing the signing of the Purchase
  Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference
  herein.  A copy of the press release announcing the consummation of the
  acquisition is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated by reference
  herein.
  
  ITEM 7.  EXHIBITS.
  
  Exhibit 
     No.    Description
  -------   -----------
  
    2.1     Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 2, 1998, among Asyst
            Technologies, Inc., a California corporation, Hine Design
            Incorporated, a California corporation, and the Shareholders of Hine
            Design Incorporated (the Disclosure Schedule and Exhibits A-I to the
            Stock Purchase Agreement have been omitted as permitted pursuant to
            the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
            ("SEC"), but will be furnished supplementally to the SEC upon
            request).
  
                                         2
  4.1  Reference is made to Exhibit 2.1.
  
    99.1  Press release announcing the execution of the Purchase Agreement.
  
    99.2  Press release announcing the consummation of the acquisition.
  
                                         3
  SIGNATURES
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
    registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
    undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
                                 ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  
  Dated:  August 14, 1998        By:   /s/Douglas J. McCutcheon
                                     --------------------------
                                     Douglas J. McCutcheon
                                     Senior Vice President
                                     and Chief Financial Officer
  
                                         4
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit
     No.    Description
  -------   -----------
  
    2.1     Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 2, 1998, among Asyst
            Technologies, Inc., a California corporation, Hine Design
            Incorporated, a California corporation, and the Shareholders of Hine
            Design Incorporated (the Disclosure Schedule and Exhibits A-I to the
            Stock Purchase Agreement have been omitted as permitted pursuant to
            the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
            ("SEC"), but will be furnished supplementally to the SEC upon
            request).
  
    4.1     Reference is made to Exhibit 2.1.
  
   99.1     Press release announcing the execution of the Purchase Agreement.
  
   99.2     Press release announcing the consummation of the acquisition.
  
                                        1