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JUNE 2000 INDUSTRY NEWS

EXP0/2000 Update: Signs Are Pointing To Success
Research Triangle Park, NC - With eight weeks to go before ISA EXPO/2000, an almost 300 percent increase in attendee registrations over the same time for the 1998 event has organizers optimistic that this show will carry on the tradition of being the number one instrumentation, systems and automation conference in North America.

More than 28,000 attendees participated in ISA EXPO/98. ISA EXPO/2000 and IMS EXPO 2000 are right on track to reach conservative projections of 750 exhibitors and 25,000 attendees. Both events are being held in New Orleans' Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on 21-24 August.

We’re obviously pleased, but not surprised with the early registration. Professionals and companies are always looking for a better way; they need new ideas to innovate and stay competitive," said Alan Wegener, ISA director of conferences and exhibits. "ISA EXPO has something for everyone: strong conference programs, training opportunities, and thousands of products and services on display. There’s no better way to stay connected," says Wegener.

Those wishing for more information on the events should call ISA Member and Customer Service at (919) 549-8411 to request a program.

 

Now public can help to shape ISO standards
ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is offering both the general public and special interest groups an opportunity to influence the direction of the hundreds of International Standards developed each year which affect so many aspects of our daily lives, usually without us being aware of them.

ISO is opening the business plans which will be guiding the standards’ development work of its technical committees to public scrutiny and comment by posting them on the Web: http://www.iso.ch/bp

So far, draft business plans covering standardization in the following areas are available for consultation: nuclear energy; transfusion, infusion and injection equipment for medical and pharmaceutical use; and laboratory glassware and related apparatus.

As the business plans of ISO’s 188 technical committees become available between now and the end of the year, anyone will be able to consult them and provide comments and input by e-mail to the committee secretariats.

 

NIST Awards $500,000 Grant to ANSI to Strengthen U.S. Participation in International Standardization
New York and Washington, DC, June 16, 2000 - The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), coordinator of the U.S. voluntary consensus standards system, has been awarded a grant of $500,000 from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an agency of the Commerce Department’s Technology Administration, to further “U.S. interests in areas of international standardization and conformity assessment”-technical areas that define the terms of access to global markets.

Henry Line, Chairman of the ANSI International Committee, commented on the importance of U.S. participation in standardization on an international level: “Inasmuch as standards are the common denominator in addressing the demands imposed by market forces, it is imperative that U.S. technology be appropriately positioned in all of the global forums wherein requirements are being articulated. The grant from NIST will assist in ANSI's efforts to position the U.S. at the forefront of the international standards development community.”

 

Agilent Technologies Receives "Supplier of the Year" Award From QUALCOMM
PALO ALTO, Calif., June 19, 2000 -- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) has received the prestigious "Non-Production Supplier of the Year" award from QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), pioneer and world leader of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) digital wireless technology. Agilent was honored for its forward-thinking initiative that resulted in a strategic alliance with QUALCOMM and for its solutions in helping meet the challenging and rigorous characterization and production test requirements for QUALCOMM's Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC) chipset products. "

QUALCOMM's ability to supply innovative, on-time solutions to the CDMA industry has been complemented by our partnership with Agilent," said Johan Lodenius, senior vice president of marketing and product management for QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies. "Agilent's expertise and first-class test solutions have helped us continue to produce the superior products and services for which QUALCOMM is recognized."

 

Arizona Instrument Corp. Completes Merger
TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 27, 2000--Arizona Instrument Corp. announced that it has completed the merger today with AZI LLC, a company owned by a group led by George G. Hays, the president of AZI.

Shares of common stock of Arizona Instrument Corp. were converted into the right to receive $5.00 per share in cash. The company will promptly mail to shareholders instructions for the surrender of their shares and receipt of the $5.00 merger consideration. The merger was approved at a special meeting of shareholders held today.

Arizona Instrument Corp., an ISO 9001 registered company, designs, manufactures, and markets precision instruments used in industrial process control and toxic gas detection applications.

 

Danaher Corporation Announces Executive Appointments
Washington, D.C., June 26, 2000 - Danaher Corporation announced that James A. Lico, 34 years old, has been appointed President of Fluke, and Craig B. Purse, 44 years old, has been appointed President of the Industrial Controls Group.

Mr. Lico originally joined Danaher in August 1996 as Vice President of Operations at Veeder-Root before being appointed President of Kistler - Morse in November 1997 and then to his most recent position as Vice President of Operations at Fluke in January 1999. Prior to joining Danaher, Mr. Lico held key operations and materials management positions at AlliedSignal's Automotive Filter & Spark Plug Group. He was also Manager of Lean Manufacturing at AlliedSignal's Automotive Headquarters. Prior to AlliedSignal, Mr. Lico worked for General Motors in their Powertrain division in progressively responsible positions in manufacturing. Mr. Lico was awarded his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a double major in Operations Management and Managerial Economics and Finance from the University of Michigan in 1988 and a Masters in Management from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management in 1997.

Mr. Purse joined Danaher through the acquisition of Dynapar Corporation in 1986 as Controller and became Vice President of Marketing for Danaher Controls in October 1992. In February 1996 Mr. Purse was appointed President of Anderson Instrument Company, and in February 1998 he assumed additional responsibility as President of Partlow/West Corporation. Most recently, Mr. Purse has been Executive Vice President of the Industrial Controls Group since March 2000. Prior to joining Danaher, Mr. Purse was with Touche Ross and Company as a Senior member of the Private Company Advisory Services staff. Mr. Purse earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and Finance from the University of Wisconsin in 1978, his CPA in 1982, and his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Chicago in 1991.

George M. Sherman, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Jim Lico will be responsible to provide the leadership for Fluke's industrial business. Throughout his career, Jim has consistently demonstrated superior leadership and the ability to deliver exceptional results. I am confident in Jim's ability to lead Fluke to continued success and performance improvement. Craig Purse is uniquely qualified to lead the Industrial Controls Business. Craig's successful career progression through senior marketing and general management assignments in three of the Industrial Controls Group's businesses has given him exceptional product, customer and channel knowledge."

 

Ground Broken for World's Premier Measurement Research Facility
One of the most significant milestones in the nearly 100-year history of the National Institute of Standards and Technology occurred today when ground was broken in Gaithersburg, Md., on the NIST Advanced Measurement Laboratory.

When it is ready for occupancy in 2004, the 47,480-square-meter (511,070- square-foot), $235.2 million AML will give NIST—an agency of the Commerce Department's Technology Administration—and its partners in U.S. industry access to research and development capabilities not available anywhere else in the world. The laboratory's unique characteristics will help industry/government collaborators achieve higher quality reference materials, improved measurements and standards, and more rapidly developed research advances.

Participating in today's groundbreaking ceremony were Commerce Secretary William Daley, Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.), Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Congresswoman Constance Morella (R-Md.), Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan and Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology Cheryl Shavers.

"The AML is the world-class facility that will provide the United States with global leadership in measurements and standards, and set the foundation for technological advances well into the 21st century," said Secretary Daley. "What will come from within these walls will enhance U.S. industrial competitiveness, foster economic growth and improve the quality of life for all Americans."

The AML will feature stringent controls on particulate matter, temperature, vibration and humidity that are unattainable in current NIST buildings. Such conditions are vital for housing the institute's most advanced metrology, physics, chemistry, electronics, engineering, manufacturing and materials science research, and will enable NIST to keep pace with rapid developments in semiconductors, industrial robots, computers, pharmaceuticals and emerging technologies requiring molecular and atomic-level precision.

 

Testmart Expands Coverage Of PC-Controlled Test & Measurement Instruments
SAN BRUNO, Calif. - June 1, 2000 - TestMartTM announced it has significantly expanded coverage of the growing PC-controlled test and measurement instrument market. The increased coverage will include 1,171 unique products for sale or lease in 18 product categories from 51 manufacturers.

"Broadening our coverage to include PC-hosted products positions us to meet the demand of a fast-growing market," said Peter Ostrow president and CEO of TestMart. "PC-controlled instruments, especially high-speed PCI-bus products, are used more frequently across numerous growth industries from research and development to manufacturing. By satisfying the demands of this expanding market more completely, TestMart is demonstrating its commitment to making the most advanced test and measurement equipment available, and extending our worldwide commerce and information capabilities to the entire test and measurement community."

TestMart's broad-based PC-controlled instrument offerings extend across multiple-bus interfaces - including ISA and compact PCI - and complement the more than 1000 VXI products available through TestMart. Software tools for data acquisition and signal analysis are also covered, rounding out complete coverage of the PC-instrument category. Core product categories include digital/analog I/O modules, logic analyzers, pulse data generators, interface cards, signal conditioning modules, signal generators and synthesizers, digital oscilloscopes, and digital multimeters.

The expanded site coverage features products from major manufacturers including National Instruments, Keithley, Gage Applied Sciences, Computer Boards, Inc., GeoTest, and United Electronics Industries (UEI).

The TestMart Web site can be found at www.testmart.com.

 

Detroit Precision Tool Announces Metrology Services Division
ROCHESTER HILLS, MI - June 1, 2000 - To help manufacturers assure their production quality and to prove their quality meets industry standards, Detroit Precision Metrology Services, has created a state-of-the-art, environmentally controlled metrology lab to provide dimensional inspection, third-party certifications for ISO, QS, Q1, and TE quality standards, and calibration services.

According to the company, there is no other commercial metrology lab in the Midwest this well-controlled, or equipped, operated by a firm with more than 25 years of measurement, layout, and certification experience. Metrology Services is a division of Detroit Precision Tool Company, a leading designer and builder of production gauging systems.

"We have seen an increasing need in the auto industry for third-party verification that a supplier manufacturer's quality is, in fact, meeting quality standards their customers, the automotive OEM, demand," said John Sattmann, Detroit Precision vice president. "Our company has the unusual capability to inspect and certify masters: part-like, audit, calibration and ring-type to help manufacturers assure production quality," he added.

 

Transmation Inc. Reports Fiscal 2000 Year End And Fourth Quarter Results
ROCHESTER, NY - JUNE 1, 2000 - Transmation, Inc. announced its financial results for the fiscal year and the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2000.

For fiscal 2000, the net loss totaled $2,490,110, or $.42 per basic and diluted share on sales of $79,968,749. This compares to net income of $1,049,101, or $.17 per diluted share and $.18 per basic share on sales of $70,873,287, which was reported for fiscal 1999. The net loss for the year stems primarily from one-time pre-tax charges relating to inventory write-downs, severance payments, bank charges and uncollectible accounts totaling approximately $3.6 million taken during the second half of the fiscal year.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2000, the Company reported a loss of $52,684, or $.01 per basic and diluted share on sales of $20,349,965. This compares to a profit of $92,758, or $.02 per basic and diluted share on sales of $18,937,879, which was reported one year ago. During the fiscal fourth quarter the Company made a pre-tax investment of approximately $350,000 in the MetersandInstruments.com e-commerce initiative as well as recording non-recurring charges, primarily severance payments, of approximately $200,000 in the quarter.

There were 5,882,842 average shares outstanding included in the 2000 loss per basic and diluted share calculation compared to 6,131,212 weighted average shares outstanding used to determine diluted income per share and 5,847,077 basic shares used to determine basic earnings per share in 1999.

Mr. Robert G. Klimasewski, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated: "We are encouraged by the financial results achieved in the fourth quarter. While our quarterly results continued to be negatively impacted by approximately $200,000 in non-recurring costs we are pleased with our progress in better balance sheet management and we will continue to use cash from operations to reduce our bank debt. We expect continued operating improvements in the months ahead.

"Since I reassumed the roles of President and Chief Executive Officer in December we have made tangible progress in our goal of focusing the entire organization on capitalizing on our position as a technical core supplier, strategic ally and single-source vendor for calibration services and product sales. We believe doing so should position us to return to profitability during fiscal 2001. We continue to make progress in optimizing our organizational resources to meet the changing demands of the marketplace by reducing costs, improving inventory management and enhancing our management and employee base.


Proposed Agreement Aims to Simplify Lab Accreditation
The National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation are proposing a partnership to achieve a broadly recognized laboratory accreditation system in the United States, thereby simplifying processes for demonstrating that products comply with domestic and foreign requirements.

In a notice published in the May 19 Federal Register, NIST and NACLA, a non-profit corporation founded to recognize U.S. accrediting bodies, said they plan to sign a memorandum of understanding that will enable the two organizations "to reduce redundancy and complexity" in the often puzzling and duplicative realm of laboratory accreditation.

NIST and NACLA representatives will describe the details of the MOU at a public workshop on Friday, June 23, 2000, from 10 a.m. to noon. The workshop will be held at NIST's Gaithersburg, Md., headquarters. (See the NIST web site at www.ts.nist.gov for details. A copy of the draft MOU will be posted on June 1, 2000.) Written public comments should be sent to "NACLA Comments," Office of the Director, Technology Services, NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2000, Gaithersburg, Md. 20899-2000.


Keithley Instruments, Inc. Approves Two-For-One Stock Split
Cleveland, Ohio -- June 1, 2000 - Keithley Instruments, Inc. (NYSE:KEI), a leader in electrical measurement solutions, announced that its Board of Directors approved a two-for-one stock split of its common shares and Class B common shares, and approved the regular quarterly cash dividend.

"Our strong financial performance has begun to be recognized by the investment community," said Joseph P. Keithley, the company's Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. "Since the beginning of the calendar year, our stock has almost tripled in value. A two-for-one split shows our continued confidence of the opportunities that lie ahead for Keithley Instruments. Additionally, this action will increase the stock's liquidity benefiting the company as well as all our shareholders."

New shares will be issued on June 1, 2000, to shareholders of record on May 18, 2000. Following the stock split, Keithley Instruments will have approximately 14.7 million common shares and Class B common shares outstanding. Additionally, the company today announced its regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.0275 per common share on a post-split basis. The dividend is payable June 30, 2000, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 16, 2000.

Keithley Instruments, Inc. provides electrical measurement solutions to the telecommunications, semiconductor, and electronic components industries. Engineers and scientists around the world use Keithley's advanced hardware and software for process monitoring, production test, and basic research.

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