New FARO Laser Tracker 'X' Targets 3D Measurement Extremes

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LAKE MARY, Fla., Oct. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- FARO Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: FARO), the only company with a complete line of portable 3D coordinate measurement systems for the Computer-Aided Measuring (CAM2) market, announced the release of its new FARO Laser Tracker X, featuring the Company's latest technological advancement: XtremeADM (patent pending).

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"Thousands of trackers are in use and have been the standard for the past 12 years for providing automotive, aerospace and other large-part manufacturers with a means of ensuring quality for assemblies and components beyond the measuring capabilities of other CMMs or portable CMMs," FARO CEO and President Simon Raab said. "With XtremeADM and its other innovations, the new FARO Laser Tracker X allows facilities to perform those measurements with greater ease, accuracy and cost efficiency."

The FARO Laser Tracker X is a portable, 3D measurement system that uses laser technology to effectively and accurately measure large-scale parts, tooling and machinery. The system measures XYZ coordinates with its laser by following a hand-held mirrored, spherical probe. The 3D position of the probe is reported in real-time thanks to high-accuracy angular encoders and the new XtremeADM feature.

"One of the things XtremeADM achieves is that it eliminates the need for an interferometer to measure distance," FARO Laser Product Manager Chuck Pfeffer said. "That makes the model X not only less expensive, it also makes it more efficient so users can now perform all of their measurements in one mode, rather than constantly switching back and forth. This is the easiest-to- use laser tracker ever built."

XtremeADM also enables the FARO Laser Tracker X to overcome line-of-sight issues. If a person or object comes between the Tracker's beam and the probe, the user can immediately relocate the beam and continue measuring, rather than going back to a stable point as with other systems.

In addition to offering up to 0.001" accuracy and 230-foot range, the FARO Tracker X has an Instant-On Laser for immediate measuring capability (compared to 20 minutes for competitors' trackers) and Self-Comp, which eliminates the previously time-consuming and user-intensive compensation process. Press one button and the FARO Tracker performs a fully automated compensation routine in only five minutes, quickly ensuring high accuracy.

Other exclusive features such as Smart Warm-up and Active Thermal Compensation ensure stable, precise measurement by managing the Tracker's temperature in almost any environment from factory floors to virtually any remote operation. Besides its diverse measurement applications, FARO Laser Trackers are used to align such diverse equipment as ore crushers in gold mines and assembly robots in auto body plants.

It is also available with a wide range of accessories, including Wireless Ethernet, and can be used in combination with the FaroArm, FARO's portable articulating arm CMM, in order to digitize areas hidden by line-of-sight limitations -- the points all other tracker systems miss. Even with the advanced technology and additional features in the new model, the FARO Laser Tracker X costs $89,900 -- which is $35,000 less than the Tracker SI model.

"This makes the new Tracker X the only device with such powerful capabilities at such a low price point," Raab said. "This will allow more facilities to make the investment now and take advantage of the capital expenditure tax break before it expires at the end of 2004."

About FARO

With more than 7,500 installations and approximately 3,500 customers globally, FARO Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: FARO) and its international subsidiaries design, develop, and market software and portable, computerized measurement devices. The Company's products allow manufacturers to perform 3D inspections of parts and assemblies on the shop floor. This helps eliminate manufacturing errors, and thereby increases productivity and profitability for a variety of industries in FARO's worldwide customer base. Principal products include the FARO Laser ScanArm; FARO Gage and Gage-PLUS; Platinum, Titanium and Advantage FaroArms; the FARO Laser Tracker X and Si; and the CAM2 family of advanced CAD-based measurement and reporting software. FARO Technologies is ISO 9001 certified and ISO-17025 laboratory registered. Learn more at http://www.faro.com .

SOURCE  FARO Technologies, Inc.
    -0-                             10/06/2004
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Technologies, Inc., +1-407-333-9911, ext. 1137, or sahlerd@faro.com /
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    /Web site:  http://www.faro.com /
    (FARO)

CO:  FARO Technologies, Inc.
ST:  Florida
IN:  AUT MAC STW CPR
SU:  PDT

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"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding FARO Technologies Inc's business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.