Agilent Technologies to Acquire MV Technology; Move to Expand Automated Optical-Inspection Offering in Electronics Manufacturing.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers PALO ALTO Palo Alto, city, California Palo Alto (păl`ō ăl`tō), city (1990 pop. 55,900), Santa Clara co., W Calif.; inc. 1894. Although primarily residential, Palo Alto has aerospace, electronics, and advanced research industries. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 5, 2001 Acquisition Positions Agilent to Provide Complete and Flexible Automated Optical-Inspection and Test Solutions to Electronics Manufacturers Agilent Technologies This article needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :A), a leading provider of innovative technologies for communications and life sciences, today announced the agreement of its subsidiary, Agilent Technologies Ireland Ltd., to acquire MV Technology Ltd., a privately held provider of automated optical-inspection (AOI AOI Area Of Interest AOI Automated Optical Inspection AOI Art of Illusion (3D modeling software) AOI Associated Oregon Industries AOI Angle Of Incidence AOI Age of Innocence (David Hamilton book, also a band) ) systems and solutions for the electronics-manufacturing market. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. MVT MVT Movement MVT Mean Value Theorem MVT Mississippi Valley-Type (ore deposits) MVT Military Vehicle Trust MVT Most Valuable Team MVT Multi-Variable Testing MVT Mount Vernon Terminal (railroad destination) , headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a leading supplier of in-line AOI systems and solutions, with over 350 systems installed worldwide. MVT's customer portfolio includes the leading mobile-phone manufacturers, contract manufacturers and component-placement manufacturers worldwide. The acquisition of MVT -- with more than 140 employees -- includes products, patents, intellectual property and regional offices in Chicago, Singapore, Tokyo, and Guadalajara, Mexico. In addition, the two companies have announced that they will establish a worldwide center for automated optical inspection Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) is an automated visual inspection of PCB(or LCD,transistor manufacture) where a camera autonomously scans the device under test for both catastrophic failure (eg. missing component) and quality defects (eg. in Dublin, called the Irish Imaging Operation. It will have global business responsibility for all of Agilent's AOI development, manufacturing, marketing and sales. The transaction is expected to close in about six weeks, after receipt of regulatory approvals and other closing conditions have been met. After the acquisition is completed, MVT will become an operation within the Imaging Division of Agilent's Manufacturing Test Business Unit, part of Agilent's Automated Test Group. "Adding MVT's flexible, high-accuracy in-line automated optical-inspection and measurement systems to Agilent's market-leading solutions in automated x-ray inspection Automated x-ray inspection (AXI) is a technology based on the same principles as automated optical inspection. It uses x-rays as its source, instead of visible light, to automatically inspect features, which are typically hidden from view. (AXI AXI Automated X-Ray Inspection (electronics) AXI Association Xpertise Inc (Calgary, AB, Canada) AXI Ada to X-Window System Interface ) and in-circuit test (ICT (1) (Information and Communications Technology) An umbrella term for the information technology field. See IT. (2) (International Computers and Tabulators) See ICL. 1. (testing) ICT - In Circuit Test. ) will position Agilent to provide complete and flexible test and inspection solutions to printed-circuit-assembly manufacturers," said John Scruggs, senior vice president of Agilent's Automated Test Group. "MVT is a great fit for Agilent's intelligent-test technologies and strategy, with many powerful synergies and almost no overlap in product offerings or technologies." The move is an important step in Agilent's plan to provide end-to-end intelligent-test solutions to electronics and integrated-circuits manufacturers requiring AOI, AXI and ICT solutions. The addressable Reachable. When something is addressable, it can be identified and manipulated independently of its surroundings. For example, screen pixels and RAM memory are addressable. Each of the screen's picture elements can be individually turned on and off, and each of the memory's bytes can be worldwide market for automated imaging systems (AOI and AXI) is expected to grow from US $250 million in 1999 to about US $550 million in 2004 according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Prime Research Group, an industry research group. This rapid market growth is fueled by the critical needs of electronics manufacturers to quickly deploy new test and measurement technologies and solutions. On-going miniaturization min·i·a·tur·ize tr.v. min·i·a·tur·ized, min·i·a·tur·iz·ing, min·i·a·tur·iz·es To plan or make on a greatly reduced scale. min of components, increased use of advanced packaging (Flip Chips, MicroBGA, 0201), and the growing pressure to manufacture defect-free products, as well as shorten product-to-market time, is driving the market for AOI. Electronics manufacturers need to speed up the production process, improve production yields and enhance process control to stay ahead in the market. "The combined organization will position Agilent to provide process-test and inspection solutions anywhere in the printed-circuit-assembly manufacturing process," said Peter Conlon, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of MVT. "This includes solder-paste inspection, component-placement inspection, solder-joint inspection, and electrical test. With best-in-class AOI, AXI, and ICT solutions, Agilent is in a position to combine various aspects of each technology to uniquely provide intelligent-test solutions, enabling customers to maximize fault coverage in the most cost-effective manner." For more information, please go to www.agilent.com/see/pressinfo. About MVT MVT is a privately-held company founded in 1996 to design, develop and deploy in-line automated-optical-inspection and test solutions for the Surface Mount Technology (SMT (1) (Surface Mount Technology) See surface mount. (2) (Station ManagemenT) An FDDI network management protocol that provides direct management. Only one node requires the software. SMT - Station Management ) industry. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, the company has since evolved into a global corporation with partners and customers worldwide and regional offices in Chicago, USA; Singapore; Tokyo, Japan; and Guadalajara, Mexico. MVT's strategy is to maintain its technology edge over competitors by consistently investing resources in research and development, to anticipate and fulfill the future needs of the SMT industry. By understanding the industry's demand for reliability and simplicity and with the experience gained with the world's largest electronics original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and contract electronics manufacturers (CEMs), MVT offers a complete portfolio of SMT inspection and measurement solutions offering flexibility, repeatability and ease-of-use. Since its inception, MVT has installed more than 350 AOI systems worldwide. For more information, visit MVT's Web site at www.mvt.ie. About Agilent Technologies Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a diversified technology company with approximately 47,000 employees serving customers in more than 120 countries. Agilent is a global leader in designing and manufacturing test, measurement and monitoring instruments, systems and solutions, and semiconductor and optical components. In fiscal year 2000, Agilent had net revenue of $10.8 billion. The company serves markets that include communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare. Information about Agilent Technologies can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com. This news release contains forward-looking statements (including, without limitation, statements relating to the completion of the acquisition and the ability of Agilent Technologies to expand its product offerings and solutions as a result of this acquisition) that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause results of Agilent Technologies to differ materially from management's current expectations. These risks are detailed in Agilent Technologies' Annual Report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. for the year ended October 31, 2000 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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