Cognex Achieves Preferred Supplier Status with Ford Motor Company

Natick, MA, March 16, 2004-Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ - CGNX), the world's leading supplier of machine vision systems and vision sensors, has achieved preferred supplier status with Ford Motor Company. Cognex is one of a select group of suppliers—and the only machine vision company—to meet Ford’s stringent requirements for preferred supplier status under Ford’s Green Compliant Supplier program. 

Ford Motor Company awards preferred status for exceptional product reliability and maintainability. Before awarding this status to Cognex, Ford reviewed historical product quality data and determined that Cognex had demonstrated a commitment to improving product reliability, developing products that are easily maintained, providing spare parts when needed, and minimizing operational costs over the life of the product. As part of Ford’s strategy to acquire the best possible production equipment, the Green Compliant Supplier program is one of their key tools used to evaluate a supplier’s future business opportunities.

‘‘We are pleased to be recognized by Ford for our commitment to providing industrial-grade products that meet the highest standards for reliability in the manufacturing environment,’‘ said Jim Hoffmaster, Chief Operating Officer for Cognex. ‘‘Cognex has always embraced the spirit of trust, co-operation, and communication between supplier and client that is associated with this program.’‘ 

As a result of this preferred supplier status, Cognex has the opportunity to supply Ford with a number of In-Sight vision sensors for use throughout their global powertrain operations. These vision sensors will read 2D codes that have been marked directly on parts for the purpose of tracking those parts throughout the manufacturing process.

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Cognex Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and markets machine vision systems and machine vision sensors, or computers that can ‘‘see.’‘  Cognex is the world's leader in the machine vision industry, having shipped more than 200,000 vision systems, representing over $1.5 billion in cumulative revenue, since the company's founding in 1981. Cognex's Modular Vision Systems Division, headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, specializes in machine vision systems which are used for automating the manufacture of a wide range of discrete items and for assuring their quality.  Cognex's Surface Inspection Systems Division, headquartered in Alameda, California, specializes in machine vision systems which are used for inspecting the surfaces of products manufactured in a continuous fashion, such as metals, paper, and plastics.  In addition to its corporate headquarters in Natick, Massachusetts, Cognex also has regional offices located throughout North America, Japan, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Visit Cognex on-line at http://www.cognex.com.

Company Contact:
John Lewis
Cognex Public Relations Specialist
Phone:  (508) 650-3140