Creaform Joins AMETEK’s Electronic Instruments Group

Published: Thursday, November 7, 2013 - 12:57

Creaform Inc., developer of the Handyscan 3D laser scanner, was recently acquired for approximately $120 million by AMETEK Inc., a global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electro-mechanical devices.

Creaform was formed in 2002 in Lévis, Québec, Canada, near Québec City. In 2005, the company launched the HandyScan 3D laser scanner and by December 2011, it had sold 1,500 HandyScan 3D units worldwide. Creaform operates innovation centers in Lévis and Grenoble, France, and has direct sales operations in the United States, France, Germany, China, Japan, and India. A privately held company, Creaform has annual sales of approximately $52 million.

The portable Creaform 3D scanners are used in diverse applications to create accurate 3D models and capture measurements of a wide range of objects. The company’s product portfolio includes several lines of handheld 3D scanners, portable coordinate measuring machines, and related accessories used for reverse engineering, dimensional inspection, precision manufacturing, nondestructive testing, automated quality control, and 3D printing.

The Handyscan 3D, a stand-alone laser scanner used to perform noncontact measurement, integrates Creaform’s TRUaccuracy technology for higher accuracy in shop-floor applications. The handheld scanners are sold with VXelements metrology software for data acquisition and the optimization of 3D scan data.

“Creaform is an outstanding acquisition,” says Frank Hermance, the chairman and CEO of AMETEK. “It has an impressive R&D base and an industry-leading position across a number of high-growth market applications. Creaform significantly expands the range of noncontact metrology products offered by our Ultra Precision Technology business. Creaform’s innovative, optically-based product line and excellent customer base will expand our metrology sales into attractive segments closely adjacent to those of our existing Taylor Hobson and Solartron Metrology businesses.”

For more than a decade, Creaform has been a developer of 3D optical measurement technologies, and it has been granted a number of technological patents. In the fall of 2011, Creaform achieved ISO 9001 certification.

Creaform will join AMETEK as a part of its Electronic Instruments Group (EIG), which is a recognized leader in advanced monitoring, testing, calibrating, and display instruments with 2012 sales of $1.9 billion. With annualized sales of $3.5 billion, the common stock of AMETEK (NYSE:AME) is a component of the S&P 500 Index. AMETEK’s corporate offices are located in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.ametek.com.

About The Author

Creaform Inc.

Creaform helps companies seamlessly create, simulate, verify, and collaborate in 3D, significantly enhancing their turnaround times and profitability. In addition to designing and selling its 3D laser scanners/systems, 3D digitizers, portable CMMs, dual camera sensors, and distributing other 3D measurement systems and software, Creaform offers design and engineering services, reverse engineering, finite element analysis, 3D and long-range scanning, inspection, training, and staff outsourcing.