PROVIDENCE, RI-With the acquisition of Helios, the Mahr Group enhances its existing product range in horizontal length measurement with the brands SIP and Helios, as well as in the field of optical and tactile shaft measurement with the brands Helio-Pan and Helio-Scope. Top management of Mahr expects a positive impact for the new corporation, Mahr Helios Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG, in strengthened sales performance and extended research and development.

With this acquisition, Mahr strengthens its competitiveness as a supplier of dimensional metrology products and systems. Helios Messtechnik has a workforce of 75 employees and expects a turnover of about 10 million euros in 2006. The operating company is located in Dörzbach, in the north of Wuerttemberg, Germany, and offers expertise in the fields of optical (noncontact) and tactile (contact) shaft measurement, as well as in precision gages. The Mahr Group will begin integrating these businesses into its worldwide activities.

For the Mahr Group, with about 1,500 employees worldwide, the acquisition of Helios provides a further opportunity to extend its product range among new and existing customers in the field of shaft measurement. The Helios Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG acquisition complements Mahr GmbH Esslingen (precision gages) and the Mahr GmbH Göttingen (precision length metrology and form and position tolerance testing). Thomas Keidel and Stephan Gais will act as managing directors of the newly formed company.