Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Siemens sells N.H. business unit to Microscan

By Mass High Tech Staff

Siemens AG’s Nashua, N.H.-based machine vision business unit has been bought by Microscan Systems Inc. Microscan said it plans to keep the Nashua location open and retain the majority of the workforce, although further financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Siemens machine vision unit was formerly RVSI Acuity CiMatrix, which Siemens Energy & Automation Inc. purchased in 2005 for an undisclosed amount. Acuity CiMatrix had been a subsidiary of Robotic Visions Systems Inc. of Nashua.

Microscan is a Renton, Wash.-based automatic identification, and code-scanning technology company. Microscan said the buy is intended to strengthen its position in the traceability market by expanding further into machine vision imaging and inspection. The company said it expects the deal to close on Friday.

Siemens Energy & Automation said the sale will allow it to focus on its industrial identification business segment and strengthen its RFID and code-reading systems portfolio. In 2004, RVSI sold its semiconductor equipment group in order to focus on the Acuity CiMatrix machine vision and data matrix symbology business.

Also in 2004, Acuity CiMatrix received a blanket order for approximately $1.1 million from an unnamed partner for Data Matrix reading and machine vision inspection equipment. The technology had been planned for use by an automotive manufacturer to read Data Matrix 2-D codes marked on automotive components and printed circuit boards, and to monitor and control manufacturing processes.