SOURCE: Perceptron, Inc.

 

PLYMOUTH, MI--(Marketwire - September 18, 2008) - Perceptron, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRCP) today announced the release of ARGUS, a process control and variation reduction software package designed for use in complex industrial manufacturing.

ARGUS significantly expands the capability of Perceptron's Automated Systems products and represents a considerable differentiator in the marketplace. Used in conjunction with Perceptron dimensional gauging solutions, ARGUS software automatically searches for anomalies in the measurement data and analyzes any variation patterns that suggest a problem. The suspect variation patterns are then grouped by potential root cause and prioritized based on their impact on the manufacturing process. ARGUS then alerts key personnel and displays the results using animated, 3D-graphics.

"The ARGUS software offers substantial and unique improvements in the way assembly process information is presented to the user. We believe it brings important added value to our customers as they search for ways to optimize manufacturing processes, reduce costs, and improve the quality of their products," commented Harry Rittenour, President and CEO, Perceptron, Inc.

Previously, extracting information from raw data required dedicated resources and the results were at times delayed or incomplete. By combining automated data analysis and intuitive visualization, ARGUS turns measurement data into easy-to-understand, actionable information in real-time. ARGUS allows users to spend their time solving problems instead of searching for them.

Mr. Rittenour added, "As the industry shifts toward increasingly flexible manufacturing processes and the production of more fuel-efficient vehicles, our customers are faced with new and intriguing challenges. We see ARGUS as a tremendous opportunity to help our customers overcome those challenges, either during their impending re-tooling cycles or by upgrading their existing systems immediately. In fact, a significant, long-term customer has already placed an order to upgrade existing Perceptron systems in one of its strategic facilities due to the added capability provided by ARGUS. ARGUS is the result of one of a number of product research and development efforts that the Company is undertaking to expand its global presence in the industrial marketplace. The Company continues to be optimistic for its near and long term future, expecting double digit revenue and earnings growth in fiscal 2009, despite the ongoing turmoil in the automotive market sectors."

About Perceptron®

Perceptron produces information-based process improvement solutions for industrial manufacturing, as well as technology components for non-contact measurement and inspection applications. Automotive and manufacturing companies throughout the world rely on Perceptron's manufacturing process solutions to help them manage their complex manufacturing processes to improve quality, shorten product launch times and reduce overall manufacturing costs. Perceptron's Technology Products provide innovative solutions for scanning and inspection, serving industrial, trade and consumer applications.

Headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan, Perceptron has approximately 250 employees worldwide, with operations in the United States, Germany, France, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Singapore and China. For more information about Perceptron, please visit www.perceptron.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements in this press release may be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including the Company's ability to develop and introduce new products and the Company's expectation as to the timing of revenue and net income increases from new products which the Company has not yet released. The Company assumes no obligation for updating any such forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting such forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements due to a number of uncertainties in addition to those set forth in the press release, including, but not limited to, those set forth in "Item 1A - Risk Factors" of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2008. The ability of the Company to develop and introduce new products, especially in markets outside of automotive, is subject to a number of uncertainties, including general product demand and market acceptance risks, the ability of the Company to resolve technical issues inherent in the development of new products and technologies, the ability of the Company to identify and satisfy market needs, the ability of the Company to identify satisfactory distribution networks, the ability of the Company to develop internally or identify externally high quality cost effective manufacturing capabilities for the products, general product development and commercialization difficulties, and the level of interest existing and potential new customers may have in new products and technologies generally.

Perceptron is a registered trademark of Perceptron, Inc.