AMETEK Inc., has acquired Creaform Inc., a leading developer and manufacturer of innovative portable 3D measurement technologies and a provider of 3D engineering services for approximately $120 million. Based near Qu?bec City, Canada, the privately held company has annual sales of approximately $52 million. The announcement was made in the last week of October 2013.

Creaform is the industry leader in stand-alone portable 3D scanners. These optical devices are used in a growing number of applications to create accurate 3D models and measurements of a wide range of objects. Its products include several families of handheld 3D scanners, portable coordinate measuring machines and related accessories that are widely used in reverse engineering, dimensional inspection, precision manufacturing, non-destructive testing, automated quality control and 3D printing. The Handyscan 3D, a handheld laser scanner used to perform non-contact measurement, leads the market in capability and portability.

"Creaform is an outstanding acquisition. 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 non-contact metrology products offered by our Ultra Precision Technology business," commented Frank S Hermance, AMETEK Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

"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," he added.

Creaform has its headquarters and manufacturing operations in L?vis, Qu?bec. It operates innovation centres in L?vis and Grenoble, France, and has direct sales operations in the United States, France, Germany, China, Japan and India. It joins AMETEK as part of its Electronic Instruments Group (EIG) - a recognized leader in advanced monitoring, testing, calibrating, and display instruments with 2012 sales of $1.9 billion.

AMETEK is a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electro-mechanical devices with annualized sales of $3.6 billion. The company has a presence in India.