FARO Receives Approval for New European Patent

LAKE MARY, Fla., Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Leader in CAM2 (Computer-Aided Manufacturing Measurement), FARO Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: FARO) announces approval by the European Patent Office of a European Patent Application covering portable coordinate measurement machines (CMMs) having seven axes with three degrees of freedom at the probe end.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000522/FLM035LOGO )

This European Patent Application is expected to be granted as a European Patent by mid 2002 and should provide FARO with the right to exclude its competitors from making and/or selling similar seven-axis CMMs in Great Britain, Germany, France and Italy. The significant patent rights to be granted in the European Patent will become a part of the growing FARO patent portfolio that already includes U.S. Patent Nos. 5,611,147 and 5,794,356, both of which include similar claims covering a seven-axis CMM. As is consistent with FARO business strategy, the company intends to vigorously enforce its patent rights as required to maintain its market leadership and to protect its valuable innovations.

Simon Raab, CEO and President of FARO said, "The ability of a portable CMM to have three degrees of freedom at the probe end constitutes an important advance in CMM technology." Demand for the additional axis of rotation at the probe end is in direct relation to the current interest in laser-scanning probes. The additional rotation allows a laser-type scanner to be positioned with much greater ease and accuracy in order to maintain its orientation to the object being measured.

About FARO

FARO Technologies (Nasdaq: FARO) and its international subsidiaries design, develop and market CAM2 systems and services for manufacturers of automotive, aerospace, industrial and consumer products worldwide. Principal products include the FaroArm, a six-degree-of-freedom articulating arm, the Control Station and a CAM2 family of advanced CAD-based measurement and reporting software. FARO products provide manufacturers the freedom to measure production parts or complex assemblies on the shop floor. FARO's customers benefit through improved productivity and enhanced product quality because of reduced rework and scrap within the manufacturing process. A recognized leader of dimensional quality control products worldwide, FARO Technologies is ISO 9001 certified and Guide 25 approved.

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities and Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition, words such as "believes," "anticipates," "expects" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties or other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements," including FARO's estimates of future business prospects, statements regarding FARO's objectives, expectations, intentions, beliefs or strategies, or statements containing words such as "believe," "estimate," "project," "expect," "intend," "may," "anticipate," "plans," "seeks," or similar expressions. It is important to note that FARO's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Among the important factors that could cause such actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to:

    * customer acceptance of the Company's products,
    * ability of FARO to license and/or develop a laser-scanning probe
    * public examination of patent, resulting in it being delayed or denied
    * the impact of competitive products and pricing,
    * the other risks detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and
      other reports filed by FARO from time to time with the Securities and
      Exchange Commission.

All forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and FARO undertakes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE FARO Technologies, Inc.
Web site: http: //www.faro.com
Photo: http: //www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000522/FLM035LOGO AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or 212-782-2840
CONTACT: Sarah Duey of FARO, +1-800-736-0234
CAPTION: FLM035LOGO FARO TECHNOLOGIES LOGO FARO Technologies Logo. (PRNewsFoto)[AG] LAKE MARY, FL USA 05/22/2000