Ametek acquires 3D scan specialist Creaform

06 Nov 2013

US engineering giant splashes $120m on Canadian developer of innovative portable 3D measurement systems.

Global manufacturer of electronic and electromechanical devices Ametek, Berwyn, Pa., USA, has acquired Creaform, Inc., a developer of portable 3D measurement technologies and provider of 3D engineering services for US$120 million.

Based near Quebec City, Canada, the privately held Creaform has annual sales of approximately $52 million.

This latest acquisition by Ametek follows last year's $50 million takeover of Massachusetts-based maker of vibration-isolation tables Technical Manufacturing Corporation (TMC).

Creaform is a developer of stand-alone portable 3D scanners. Its product portfolio includes several families of handheld 3D scanners, portable coordinate measuring machines and related accessories that are widely used in reverse engineering, dimensional inspection, precision manufacturing, non-destructive testing, automated quality control and 3D printing. The Handyscan 3D, a handheld laser scanner used to perform non-contact measurement, is claimed to "lead the market in capability and portability".

Frank Hermance, Ametek Chairman and CEO, said, “Creaform is an outstanding acquisition. It has an impressive R&D base and an industry-leading position across a number of high growth market applications. Creaform significantly expands the range of non-contact metrology products offered by our Ultra Precision Technology business.”

"Creaform's innovative, optically-based product line and excellent customer base will expand our metrology sales into attractive segments closely adjacent to those of our existing Taylor Hobson and Solartron Metrology businesses," he adds.

Creaform has its headquarters and manufacturing operations in Levis, Quebec. It operates innovation centers in Levis and Grenoble, France, and has direct sales operations in the United States, France, Germany, China, Japan and India. It joins AMETEK as part of its Electronic Instruments Group, a developer of advanced monitoring, testing, calibrating, and display instruments with 2012 sales of $1.9 billion.

About the Author

Matthew Peach is a contributing editor tooptics.org.