Lahr/Dessau, Germany & Oakdale, USA -- In an asset deal, NELA Brüder Neumeister GmbH of Lahr, Germany, acquired on January 26, 2009 the entire product range of OMCS Optical Measurement GmbH in Dessau, Germany. NELA is the largest worldwide supplier of optical register systems for offset printing plates and corresponding plate automation systems. OMCS is a leader in the field of optical surface inspection systems for the industrial examination of rubber, polymer and ceramic parts.

"This acquisition is a strategic move and it combines the latest and most powerful technologies with our expertise in the field of optical inspection systems in an ideal way" states NELA President Frank Neumeister. This combination of know how in the areas of machine building and optical inspection technology for 2D and 3D applications allows for an enhancement of NELA's technological leadership in its traditional markets newspaper printing, web commercial and sheet-fed printing. The effective development of OMCS's business offers great potential for further growth of the NELA group. The automated and touch-less inspection of mass parts and composite materials presents many business opportunities as industry requirement for precise, gapless and fully automated inspection of entire batches of product is growing at a high rate.

In close co-operation over the past twelve months, both companies have already launched a number of design and automation projects. Optical inspection systems for rubber seals and their integration into manufacturing cells, as well as optical color register systems for closed-loop control on press cylinders and paper webs in printing presses are just two examples of the effectiveness of the liaison. The two companies complement one another in many ways. "I am specially impressed by the flexibility and the precision of engineering and mechanical assembly at NELA" says Klaus Widmann, former president of OMCS GmbH and Director of Optical Inspection Systems with NELA.

The OMCS sites at Dessau, Germany, and Wuxi, China, have been integrated into the NELA sites. Leading personnel have received job offers from NELA. Further details of the transaction remain confidential.