US-based Ametek, a manufacturer of electronic instruments and electro-mechanical devices has acquired Canadian firm Creaform, a developer and manufacturer of innovative portable 3D measurement technologies and a provider of 3D engineering services, for approximately US$120 million.

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.

Ametek Chairman/CEO Frank S. Hermance said the acquisition of Creaform will significantly expand the range of non-contact metrology products offered by Ametek’s ultra-precision technology business. He also said the optically-based product line will expand Ametek’s metrology sales into “attractive” segments closely adjacent to those of its existing Taylor Hobson and Solartron metrology businesses.

Creaform has its headquarters and manufacturing operations in Lévis, Québec. It operates innovation centres in Lévis and Grenoble, France, and has direct sales operations in the US, France, Germany, China, Japan and India. It joins Ametek as part of its Electronic Instruments Group (EIG), a recognised leader in advanced monitoring, testing, calibrating, and display instruments with 2012 sales of US$1.9 billion.