CENTER VALLEY, PA-Olympus has announced that effective April 1, it will begin selling its biomedical and industrial microscopes and imaging instruments directly throughout 14 additional states, including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming and Michigan.

Until now, these areas have been served by Minneapolis-based Leeds Precision Instruments, Inc., which has been a long-time Olympus dealer. Leeds has made a strategic decision to focus on designing, manufacturing and selling its forensic comparison microscopes, forensic spectral imaging systems and custom machine vision inspection systems in the United States and throughout the world; Leeds also will continue its microscope repair and service business in the United States. Leeds will continue its relationship with Olympus, utilizing Olympus optical products in its forensic microscope and imaging systems.

“These states are key to our future success, with their many important university, research, hospital and manufacturing centers,” says Osamu Joji, vice president and general manager of the Scientific Equipment Group at Olympus America Inc. “With our greatly expanded capabilities throughout the region, we look forward to working directly with these important customers, bringing them excellent products, technical support and training. We very much appreciate all that Leeds has done to expand the microscopy business in its region over the years and are eager to move ahead.”

The two companies are working together closely to ensure a smooth transition in the region. As part of the new arrangement, many of Leeds’ sales staff will become Olympus employees, allowing many customers to continue working with their current sales representatives.