Newport Acquires Design Technology

IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 6 -- Newport Corp., manufacturer and distributor of precision components and systems used for development and application of laser and optical technologies, has acquired Design Technology Corp., a systems integrator specializing in robotics and flexible automation. The acquisition was a stock deal aimed at enhancing Newport's fiber optics automation capabilities. Newport said the acquisition would add $5 to $10 million to its 2001 sales and would add to earnings per share. Design Technology, based in Billerica, Mass., provides experience in the development of specialized machinery and automation systems for high-volume production applications in a wide variety of industries.