Frost & Sullivan Names Leica Geosystems Recipient of 2004 Industrial Automation Product Innovation Award

PALO ALTO, Calif.--Oct. 2, 20041, 2004--Frost & Sullivan recognizes Leica Geosystems, designer and manufacturer of precision optical equipment used in industrial metrology, as the recipient of the 2004 Industrial Automation Product Innovation of the Year Award for delivering outstanding product concepts that solve real world manufacturing problems.

A pioneer in its field, Leica Geosystems Metrology Division holds a leading position in the laser tracker market in the aerospace industry. Customers use its laser tracker to ensure accuracy of large fabrications and alignment in the tooling and final assembly process. In the automotive industry, customers employ portable coordinate measuring machines (CMM), articulated arms, and laser trackers to measure on-line on the shop floor. Responding to the challenge of accuracy limitations in larger volumes reported during the use of articulated arms and the difficulty in accessing measurement points not in the line-of-sight when using the trackers, Leica Geosystems Metrology developed wireless solutions -- the handheld T-Probe and the non-contact T-Scan -- to use with its laser trackers.

"The combination of tracker technology with photogrammetry allows for real time measurements of point positions along with the orientation of the object in space," notes Frost & Sullivan industry manager Sath Rao. "This improvement gives customers the ability to measure also inaccessible areas accurately."

The wireless, ultra-light T-Probe is made up of carbon fiber composite, insensitive to temperature changes, shock-resistant, and can be used for easy and flexible measurements of any geometry in large measurement volumes. The optical scanner T-Scan, which rapidly digitizes large objects without mechanical contact, is insensitive to different surfaces and needs no surface preparation.

Customers are already giving favorable feedback of increased savings on measurement time as well as improved accuracy by using some of the innovations offered by Leica Geosystems.

"The T-Probe and the T-Scan are proof of Leica Geosystems' persistent innovative efforts in overcoming a problem that plagued the laser tracker industry -- the need for a direct line-of-sight to make measurements," says Rao.

Leica Geosystems has also focused on software innovations to enhance value for its customers. These have often expressed the wish to run their standard CMM and CAD software with Leica Geosystems' trackers. The new emScon open software interface allows the customer to embed Leica Geosystems' laser tracker in any application software. With this web-enabled solution, a customer can connect and measure with the Leica tracker from a website; he just needs its web address.

Customers report improved end-product quality, reduced production waste, decreased manufacturing costs and less down time, confirming Leica Geosystems' technology innovation and application expertise in the manufacturing segment.

Frost & Sullivan presents its Technology Innovation of the Year Award each year to the company that has shown excellence in technology leadership within its industry. Leica Geosystems has proven technology leadership, excelling in all stages of the technology lifecycle -- incubation, adaptation, take-up, and maturity -- ensuring a continuous flow of improvements. By innovating leading-edge concepts, the company has pioneered client applications that have the potential to emerge as best practices across several industries.

About Leica Geosystems

Leica Geosystems is an internationally leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of solutions that capture, visualize and process 3-dimensional data using the most advanced technologies in the marketplace. Leica Geosystems holds the foremost position in the world market in several high technology sectors. From the company's early beginnings in 1849, their advances in photography, surveying, and industrial measurement systems have made the Leica name synonymous with profitable innovation and consistent high quality. The company has representatives in over 100 countries worldwide. The firm's corporate headquarters are located in Switzerland. Leica Geosystems registered shares (SWX:LGSN) are quoted on the SWX Swiss Exchange in Zurich.

About the Metrology Division

The Metrology Division of Leica Geosystems is a global supplier of comprehensive hardware and software packages to the industrial metrology market. These products integrate with popular CAD programs, various build-and-inspect tools, and reverse engineering software. Using state-of-the-art laser technology, Leica's industrial measurement products make quality control, part mating, assembly and construction of large and small parts easier and more accurate than ever. Leica Metrology customers find unique advantages and cost savings in every field needing inspection and measurement. Leica's laser tracker technology is most widely used, with over 1,400 installations worldwide in addition to over 1,200 theodolite installations. For more information visit: www.leica-geosystems.com/metrology.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company founded in 1961, partners with clients to create value through innovative growth strategies. The foundation of this partnership approach is our Growth Partnership Services platform, whereby we provide industry research, marketing strategies, consulting, and training to our clients to help grow their business. A key benefit that Frost & Sullivan brings to its clients is a global perspective on a broad range of industries, markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. With a client list that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, as well as the investment community, Frost & Sullivan has evolved into one of the premier growth consulting companies in the world. For more information, visit www.frost.com.