Clear Align Acquires irZoom, Computer Optics, and Hudson Machining

PHILADELPHIA, June 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Clear Align today completed its purchase of three companies including Computer Optics, irZoom and Hudson Machining. The acquisitions, which were approved by the boards of all four companies on April 26^th, will be neutral to Clear Align's earnings in 2012 and accretive thereafter.

irZoom, now a Clear Align company, is the global leader in the design and manufacture of infrared zoom and fixed focal length lenses for SWIR, MWIR and LWIR applications that demand high optical performance over wide zoom ranges and specializes in rugged systems for commercial and military environments. Computer Optics is a world-class manufacturer of custom optical components including flats, prisms, spheric and aspheric optical components up to twelve (12) inches in diameter with up to quarter-wave precision.  Computer optics specializes in high-performance quick-turn optical prototypes and offers in-house optical coatings ranging from visible through the infrared that provide as low as 0.25% reflectivity per surface. Hudson Machining adds in-house quick turn mechanical prototype capabilities to Clear Align.  The three acquired companies will remain in Hudson, New Hampshire in a consolidated Clear Align facility now called Clear Align North.

Angelique X. Irvin, CEO of Clear Align, stated, "These acquisitions are part of an overall strategy to expand our international presence and enable quick turn in house prototypes to customers. irZoom and Computer Optics strengthen our portfolio of offerings and discriminators in the tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance market and expand our market to serve commercial and medical customers.  The complementary irZoom brand has a respected international presence that we plan to support. We will further invest in expanded optical component manufacturing allowing us to provide more diverse quick-turn optics to better serve an increasingly demanding optics marketplace. We look forward to maintaining and strengthening the relationships that Computer Optics enjoys with its existing customers, and collaborating to jointly expand into new products and markets."

Dr. Jonathan Kane, President at Clear Align, said "Clear Align brings new leadership, systems and infrastructure that enable us to scale our service, support, and production abilities to better serve our existing customers, while expanding our reach to new customers. Clear Align's has world-class manufacturing and system integration capabilities coupled with a strong reputation in the defense and aerospace businesses that benefits our combined companies. Over the last two years the companies developed a strong and collaborative working relationships and this was the logical next step. The combined technology base of the two companies provides a one-stop shop for our customers looking for either off–the-shelf or custom optical solutions from optical design to prototypes to full optics manufacturing."

About Clear Align
Clear Align designs, prototypes and manufactures state of the art custom imaging, micro-optic and laser systems for defense and aerospace customers. Clear Align's imaging expertise spans the UV, visible, NIR, SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR portions of the spectrum systems in both imaging and laser systems. Clear Align has optical component manufacturing and zoom system platforms for fast-turn, competitive solutions that differentiate our customers. Clear Align is an 8(a) certified, SDB, WOSB and SB. More information about the company is available at the company's website, www.clearalign.com.

SOURCE Clear Align