Clear Align boosts expertise in electro-optics quick-turn prototyping with three acquisitions

EAGLEVILLE, Pa., 29 April 2013.electro-optics systems integration and engineering specialist Clear Align in Eagleville, Pa., is boosting the company's expertise in quick-turn prototyping for tactical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) applications with its acquisition of three co-located companies in Hudson, N.H.

Clear Align today announced its acquisitions of IrZoom, which provides infrared zoom and fixed focal length lenses for shortwave, medium-wave, and longwave infrared imaging; its parent company Computer Optics Inc., which specializes in quick-turn optics; and Hudson Machining, which provides mechanical prototyping.

Financial terms of the acquisitions were not released, and will be neutral to Clear Align 2012 earnings, officials say. All three acquired companies, co-located at 120 Derry Road in Hudson N.H., will remain where they are in a consolidated Clear Align facility called Clear Align North, company officials say.

Clear Align focuses on imaging, lasers, and fiber optics, and is registered with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) for defense-related programs, offers class 100,000 to class 100 cleanroom manufacturing, and provides optical design and manufacturing to military customers such as the U.S. Army, BAE Systems, Honeywell, L3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon.

"These acquisitions are part of an overall strategy to expand our international presence and enable quick-turn, in-house prototypes," explains Angelique X. Irvin, CEO of Clear Align. The acquisitions were approved by the boards of all four companies last Friday.

"IrZoom and Computer Optics strengthen our portfolio of offerings and discriminators in the tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance markets and expand our market to serve commercial and medical customers," Irvin says.

"Over the last two years, the companies developed a strong and collaborative working relationship, and this was the logical next step," says Jonathan Kane, [resident of Clear Align. "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 manufacturing."

For more information contact Clear Align online at www.clearalign.com, Computer Optics at www.computeroptics.com, or IrZoom at http://irzoom.com.