11 - 17 January 2001

Local market set to benefit from acquisition of Laser Alignment

by Franco Aloisio

Although not quite familiar to laymen, Leica Geosystems and Laser Alignment are two international companies specialising in the fields of construction, surveying and medical equipment. Both companies are represented in Malta through Attard & Co. Industrial Ltd. Recently, the US company Laser Alignment was bought by Leica Geosystems, of Switzerland. Such an acquisition will not affect negatively the local importation of the equipment manufactured by these two
companies.
This acquisition will allow Leica Geosystems to establish a strong position in high-precision 3D guidance and automated machine control systems for use on construction-sites, in mining applications, and in the agricultural market, and on the laser pipe laying and building markets.
Together with Laser Alignment, the Swiss company achieves three of these strategic objectives: the establishment of a strong product range in the growing market of machine-control and guidance systems, the strengthening of the company’s sales, customer service and support networks in the American market, and the expansion of the company’s worldwide offering of products and services in the field of building and construction surveying.
With the inclusion of Laser Alignment’s technology and products, Leica Geosystems has one of the most comprehensive ranges of technologies, products and solutions in the field of acquisition, modelling and visualisation of spatial data in the world. The spectrum of product offerings extends from its compact DISTO (a hand-held laser measuring instruments), through to levels, pipe laying and rotating lasers, electronic total stations for surveying, GPS positioning systems, machine-control and guidance systems, 3D laser scanners, 3D software, and high-precision industrial laser-measurement systems.
Wilbur A. Lettinga, chairman, and Dennis Nardoni, CEO, of Laser Alignment, Inc. commented: “In Leica Geosystems we have found the ideal partner. Leica Geosystems, like ourselves, is one of the industry’s pioneers, and has a leading influence on worldwide quality standards.
“With access to Leica Geosystem’s broad product range and international service network, customers and business partners will also gain worldwide access to the highest-accuracy surveying systems and the most up-to-date solutions in surveying technology. As a part of Leica Geosystems, we look forward to strong expansion of our business, allowing us to greatly advance the achievement of our targets and the realisation of our vision. Entirely new opportunities have been opened up for the employees of Laser Alignment and for
dealers”

Further information on Leica Geosystems is available on its web-site at www.leica-geosystems.com, and on Laser Alignment on www.laseralignment.com. Both companies are represented in Malta by Attard & Co. Industrial Ltd (tel: 237555).