Business news from the quality industry.

Intelligent Precision Scanning Technologies Inc. (Loves Park, IL) and Nextec Technologies Ltd. (Israel) have announced their long-term cooperation under which IPS markets, promotes, sells and supports Nextec’s products in North America. The product mix includes the Hawk Kit, a laser retrofit package for CMMs; the Hawk family digitizing and scanning systems; turnkey automated inspection cells for near-line or in-line noncontact measurements and quality control; integrated inspection solutions; and data-processing and analysis-software packages.

United Metal Finishers Inc. (Chicago) has achieved TS 16949 certification.

Entela Inc. (Grand Rapids, MI) has expanded its fatigue testing capabilities to include: frequencies up to 50 hertz for light loads and short strokes; minimum stroke of 6 inches; and maximum force of 2,500 pounds.

Rockwell Automation (Milwaukee) has expanded its manufacturing information solutions capability with the acquisition of Interwave Technology Inc.

Solectria Corp. (Woburn, MA) has achieved ISO 9001: 2000 certification.

The Faro Laser Tracker, built by Faro Technologies Inc. (Lake Mary, FL) played a key role in The Boeing Co.’s (Chicago) Delta IV rocket launch on March 10 that successfully deployed the first satellite for the U.S. Air Force’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program. The unit helped with measuring tasks that were critical to building and testing the launch pad’s fixed pad erector system.

Physical Acoustics Corp. (Princeton, NJ) celebrated its 25th anniversary on June 1. The company was founded by Bell Labs scientist Sotirios Vahaviolos and the venture capital firms of Euclid Partners and Adler Ventures. The company is a manufacturer of nondestructive equipment, including acoustic emission, automated ultrasonics, eddy current and vibration.

X-Rite (Grandville, MI), a global provider of technology for measuring color, light and shape, has received the President of the United States “E” Award for excellence in exporting success. The award was created by President Kennedy in 1961 to recognize persons, firms or organizations that significantly contribute in the effort to increase U.S. exports.

Isothermal Technology Ltd. has created Isotech North America (Williston, VT) in response to customer demand for Isotech products and services in the United States and Canada. Isothermal Technology, a global supplier of temperature metrology, is based in England.