May 6, 2010: Automated Precision Europe GmbH (API) Heidelberg, a world leader of advanced metrology solutions for industry and WENZEL Group GmbH & Co. KG, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of coordinate measuring machines, announced a new agreement to distribute API products using WENZEL´s sales channels.

In a joint press release during this year's CONTROL fair in Stuttgart (Germany) both companies announced the volume and content of future cooperation. WENZEL will directly distribute a portion of the API product range to both existing customers and through it’ own sales channels.

According to Marc Keinert, API´s General Manager Europe,”The decision to offer API´s products by the new distributor WENZEL will create crucial advantages for API, breaking into new markets and reaching new groups of customers. WENZEL has great experience and enjoys an excellent reputation in the market for coordinate measurement technology. We are very pleased to find a competent and powerful ally such as WENZEL to offer our products from an even more comprehensive position.“Beginning today, WENZEL will sell the total product line of API´s Tracker3 family and all Tracker accessories – including API´s new IntelliProbe 360 and IntelliScan 360 sensors. These API products will be integrated into WENZEL´s product line as well. WENZEL will expand their recently and steadily growing product range with API´s mobile laser-based measurement systems. Integration also ensures the implementation of the Tracker in WENZEL´s application package Metrosoft CM as well as, the reverse engineering tool Pointmaster, developed by WENZEL´s subsidiary Knotenpunkt GmbH. This marketing partnership is applicable throughout Europe.

Frank Wenzel, CEO WENZEL Group GmbH & Co. KG stated, “API has been our long-awaited partner for a European-wide distribution partnership because the measurement systems of WENZEL and API will perfectly complement one another. Even more than that, applications provided by API and WENZEL are merging, the boundaries between them are constantly in a state of flux or even overlap. With our new expanded product portfolio we are now in a position to offer our customers the full range of both stationary and portable measurement systems. We can also offer custom-tailored alternative solutions. We are especially pleased with our new competence for large volume measurement solutions in combination with 3D-scanning provided by API's Laser Tracker3 and the IntelliSensor products. Those capabilities are specifically requested by our customers with large and extra large parts.”

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Automated Precision is the world leader of advanced metrology solutions for industrial and research applications. Founded by Dr. Kam Lau in 1987, API has pioneered progressively higher standards of accuracy for coordinate measuring and machine tool operations. API products are installed and used by all of the world’s leading aerospace, automotive, machine tool, and CMM manufacturers. API’s experienced engineering team is unmatched in its ability to deliver advanced metrology products which meet the needs of rapidly evolving industrial technologies.