8-K

UNITED STATES

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

September 29, 2011

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

Amtech Systems, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Arizona	000-11412		86-0411215
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.
131 S. Clark Drive, Tempe, AZ			85281
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)			(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code		480 967-5146
	Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Drectors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(c) Appointment of Certain Officers.

(1) On September 29, 2011, the Board of Directors of Amtech Systems, Inc. (the "Company") promoted Fokko Pentinga to Chief Executive Officer. Current Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, Jong S. Whang, has been elected Executive Chairman and will retain his current position as Chairman of the Board. These changes will become effective January 1, 2012.

(2) Fokko Pentinga has over 30 years experience in the solar and semiconductor industries and, with 17 years at Amtech, has a deep knowledge and understanding of the Company. He has been a driving force of the Company's solar strategy and its sales and operational success. Mr. Pentinga was instrumental in securing Amtech's successful R&D partnership with Yingli Green Energy Holding Co., LTD (NYSE: YGE) and the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN). He has been President of Amtech since March 2010, leading the Company to record breaking financial and operational results. Prior to being President of Amtech, Mr. Pentinga was Managing Director of Amtech Europe and General Manager of Tempress Systems, Inc, Amtech's solar subsidiary.

Jong S. Whang has been the Company's Chief Executive Officer and a Director since the Company's inception in 1981, and is one of the Company's founders. Mr. Whang also served as President until March 2010 when Mr. Pentinga was promoted to that position. From 1981 to present, Mr. Whang’s responsibilities included the sales and marketing effort for solar and semiconductor equipment business and the development of new products and business opportunities in that industry. He has 36 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, including 30 years with the Company. Mr. Whang brings extensive senior management experience and knowledge of the Company and the markets the Company serves to the Board of Directors. Mr. Whang is also uniquely positioned to provide the Board of Directors with in-depth and timely information about Company operations and with insight as to his strategic vision for the Company.

There are no family relationships between Mr. Pentinga or Mr. Whang and any director, executive officer or person nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director or executive officer.

(3) There is no material plan, contract, arrangement to which either Mr. Pentinga or Mr. Whang was a party or in which either participated in connection with their appointments as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman, respectively.

The Company's press release dated October 5, 2011, regarding the promotion of Mr. Pentinga and the appointment of Mr. Whang is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein in its entirety by reference hereto.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1		Press Release dated October 5, 2011, regarding the appointments of Fokko Pentinga to Chief Executive Officer and Jong S.Whang to Executive Chairman.

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.

	AMTECH SYSTEMS, INC.
Date: October 5, 2011	By:   /s/ Bradley C. Anderson
	Name: Bradley C. Anderson Title: Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

Amtech Promotes Fokko Pentinga to CEO effective January 1, 2012; J.S. Whang to Become Executive Chairman Focused on External Growth Opportunities

Transition focused on accelerating execution of the Company's strategic growth initiatives

TEMPE, Arizona - October 5, 2011 - Amtech Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASYS) today announced the Company's President, Fokko Pentinga, has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer and will retain his current position as President. Current CEO and Chairman of the Board, J.S. Whang, has been elected Executive Chairman and will retain his current position as Chairman of the Board. These changes will become effective January 1, 2012.

Fokko Pentinga has over 30 years experience in the solar and semiconductor industries and with 17 years at Amtech has a deep knowledge and understanding of the Company. He has been a driving force of the Company's solar strategy and it's sales and operational success. Mr. Pentinga was instrumental in securing Amtech's successful R&D partnership with Yingli Green Energy Holding Co., LTD (NYSE: YGE) and the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN). He has been President of Amtech since March 2010, leading the Company to record breaking financial and operational results. Prior to being President of Amtech, Mr. Pentinga was Managing Director of Amtech Europe and General Manager of Tempress Systems, Inc, Amtech's solar subsidiary.

These strategic changes are intended to bring heightened attention to all areas of the Company's business, and to maximize success in executing Amtech's overall growth strategy, with Mr. Pentinga focusing on the Company's organic growth strategy, R&D and China strategy, and Mr. Whang focusing on its external growth strategy, including non-solar opportunities, as well as continuing to guide the company's overall vision and strategy.

J.S. Whang commented, “This change is another step in furthering Amtech's leadership as a technology solution provider and sharpens our focus on our growth objectives. We see the current environment as being favorable for expanding our technology and product portfolio and are focused on successful execution of our growth strategy. While I will assume the title of Executive Chairman, I will continue to share oversight of Amtech's global operations.”

Fokko Pentinga commented, “I look forward to the opportunities and challenges ahead of us and believe Amtech is well positioned to achieve its growth objectives. Our organic growth opportunities rely on sustaining, transformational, and disruptive innovations, including deployment of efficient operational teams to stay current with the customers and industries at all times. I am excited about our future.”

About Amtech Systems, Inc.

Amtech Systems, Inc. manufactures capital equipment, including silicon wafer handling automation, thermal processing equipment and related consumables used in fabricating solar cells, LED and semiconductor devices. Semiconductors, or semiconductor chips, are fabricated on silicon wafer substrates, sliced from ingots, and are part of the circuitry, or electronic components, of many products including solar cells, computers, telecommunications devices, automotive products, consumer goods, and industrial automation and control systems. The Company's wafer handling, thermal processing and consumable products currently address the diffusion, oxidation, and deposition steps used in the fabrication of solar cells, semiconductors, MEMS and the polishing of LEDs and newly sliced silicon wafers.

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Litigation Securities Reform Act. Such statements may use words such as “proposed,” "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," “goal,” “guidance,” "intend," ”outlook,” "predict," "project" and similar expressions as they relate to Amtech Systems, Inc. or our management. When we make forward-looking statements, we are basing them on our management's beliefs and assumptions, using information currently available to us. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, these forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions including the risks discussed in our 10-K and 10-Q reports and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If one or more of these risks materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary materially from what we projected. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We have no intention, and disclaim any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise.

Contacts:

Amtech Systems, Inc.MKR Group, Inc.

Bradley C. AndersonInvestor Relations

Chief Financial OfficerTodd Kehrli or Jim Byers

(480) 967-5146(323) 468-2300

asys@mkr-group.com