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):  September 30, 1997
  
  
  
                            ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  
     California                    0-22114                        94-2944251
  (State of jurisdiction)     (Commission File No.)             (IRS Employer
                                                              Identification No.)
  
                                 48761 Kato Road
                                Fremont, CA 94538
              (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
  
  
  
       Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (510) 661-5000
  
                                         1.
  <PAGE>
   
  Item 5.  Other Events
  
  
  On September 30, 1997, Asyst Technologies, Inc. (the "Registrant"), issued and
  sold 1,000,000 shares of its Common Stock (the "Shares") at a purchase price of
  $42.92 per share in a private placement to a group of funds managed by a single,
  large investment management firm.  The Registrant has agreed to file a
  registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to cover
  resales of the Shares from time to time by the purchaser.  The terms and
  conditions of the private placement are set forth in the Common Stock Purchase
  Agreement, dated September 25, 1997 filed herewith as Exhibit 4.1 and the press
  release announcing such private placement is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1.
  Both exhibits are incorporated herein by reference.
  
  
  Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits
  
  
  (c)  Exhibits.
  
  EXHIBIT
  NUMBER         DESCRIPTION
  
  
  4.1            Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated September 25, 1997.
  99.1           Press Release, dated October 1, 1997.
  
                                         2.
  <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:   October 8, 1997           By: /s/ Douglas J. McCutcheon
                                         ____________________________________
                                           Douglas J. McCutcheon
                                           Senior Vice President and
                                           Chief Financial Officer
  
                                         3.
  <PAGE>
   
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  
  EXHIBIT
  NUMBER         DESCRIPTION
  
  
  4.1            Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated September 25, 1997
  99.1           Press Release, dated October 1, 1997.
  
                                         4.
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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):  September 30, 1997
  
                            ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
     California                    0-22114                        94-2944251
  (State of jurisdiction)     (Commission File No.)             (IRS Employer
                                                              Identification No.)
  
                                 48761 Kato Road
                                Fremont, CA 94538
              (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
  
       Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (510) 661-5000
  
                                         1.
  Item 5.  Other Events
  
  On September 30, 1997, Asyst Technologies, Inc. (the "Registrant"), issued and
  sold 1,000,000 shares of its Common Stock (the "Shares") at a purchase price of
  $42.92 per share in a private placement to a group of funds managed by a single,
  large investment management firm.  The Registrant has agreed to file a
  registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to cover
  resales of the Shares from time to time by the purchaser.  The terms and
  conditions of the private placement are set forth in the Common Stock Purchase
  Agreement, dated September 25, 1997 filed herewith as Exhibit 4.1 and the press
  release announcing such private placement is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1.
  Both exhibits are incorporated herein by reference.
  
  Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits
  
  (c)  Exhibits.
  
  EXHIBIT
  NUMBER         DESCRIPTION
  
  4.1            Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated September 25, 1997.
  99.1           Press Release, dated October 1, 1997.
  
                                         2.
  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:   October 8, 1997           By: /s/ Douglas J. McCutcheon
                                         ____________________________________
                                           Douglas J. McCutcheon
                                           Senior Vice President and
                                           Chief Financial Officer
  
                                         3.
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  EXHIBIT
  NUMBER         DESCRIPTION
  
  4.1            Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated September 25, 1997
  99.1           Press Release, dated October 1, 1997.
  
                                         4.