Exhibit 99.1

         Frederick A. Ball Elected to ESI's Board of Directors

    PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2003--Electro Scientific
Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq:ESIOE) announced today that Frederick A. Ball
has been elected to the company's board of directors. Mr. Ball was
until recently employed with Borland Software Corporation, having
joined in September 1999 as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer. In June 2001, he was promoted to Executive Vice President and
in October 2002 was appointed Executive Vice President of Corporate
Development and Mergers and Acquisitions. Prior to his employment with
Borland, Mr. Ball served as Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions
for KLA-Tencor Corporation. Mr. Ball served as the Vice President of
Finance for KLA-Tencor Corporation following its merger with Tencor
Instruments in 1997. Mr. Ball joined Tencor Instruments as Corporate
Controller in March 1995 and was promoted to Vice President and
appointed Corporate Secretary in January of 1996. From September 1984
until March 1995, Mr. Ball was employed with PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP.
    "The addition of Fred brings further strength and financial
leadership to ESI's board of directors," said Jon Tompkins, chairman
of the board of directors of ESI. "His industry experience in the
semiconductor equipment market and his leadership roles with
KLA-Tencor and Borland will serve as a great asset to our board of
directors."
    "I am honored to be selected as a member of ESI's board of
directors," said Mr. Ball. "Their strategy and commitment towards
their customers and strength in their markets will position them well
for the future and I'm excited to be a director of ESI."

    About ESI

    ESI, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, supplies high-value,
high-technology manufacturing equipment to the global electronics
market. Using its expertise in laser/material interaction, small parts
handling, machine vision and real-time control systems, the company
enables the production of leading-edge products for customers in the
semiconductor, passive component and electronic interconnect markets.
ESI's web site is http://www.esi.com.


    CONTACT: Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.
             Joe Reinhart, 503-671-5500