PPT Vision Announces Repeat PPT861 3D Inspection System Sale

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- PPT VISION announced today that it has received a repeat order for a PPT861(TM) 3D inspection system from one of the world's leading manufacturers of hard disk drives.  The PPT861 system is used for profiling and inspection of hard drive suspensions and suspension assemblies, which are critical components used in hard drives.

The PPT861, based on PPT's patented 3D Scanning Moire Interferometry(TM) technology is the only system on the market capable of providing both stand-alone and complete high-speed, in-line, production-level inspection of these hard drive components.  The company plans to ship this system in its first quarter of fiscal year 2002.  PPT VISION has now sold 16 PPT861(TM) 3D scanning systems.
   
"This repeat sale is a very significant and positive development for PPT VISION in that it further demonstrates the acceptance of our system and the SMI technology throughout the hard drive industry.  This customer made their repeat purchase decision based on a very successful experience with their first PPT861 system," stated Mr. Joseph C. Christenson, President of PPT VISION.  "Further, the fact that this order has been realized in the midst of
a down cycle in capital spending in the electronics sector is a very positive sign regarding future PPT861 order prospects in the hard drive industry and reflects our strong focus on and commitment to this industry," concluded Mr. Christenson.
   
PPT VISION, Inc. designs, manufactures, markets, and integrates 2D and 3D machine vision-based automated inspection systems for manufacturing applications.  Machine vision-based inspection systems enable manufacturers to realize significant economic paybacks by increasing the quality of manufactured parts and improving the productivity of manufacturing processes. The Company's 2D machine vision product line is sold on a global basis to end-users, system integrators, and original equipment manufacturers (OEM's) primarily in the electronic and semiconductor component, automotive, medical device, and packaged goods industries. The Company's SpeedScan 3D(TM) sensor, incorporating the Company's patented high-speed Scanning Moire Interferometry(TM) technology is sold to original equipment manufacturers for specific applications. The Company's PPT861(TM) 3D scanning system, which uses the Company's SpeedScan 3D sensor, is an application-specific inspection solution targeted at inspection of leaded and bumped components in the semiconductor back-end manufacturing process, inspection of surface-mount electronic connectors, and inspection of components used in hard disk drives. The Company's Common Stock trades on the Nasdaq National Market tier of The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol PPTV.  For more information, please see the PPT VISION, Inc. web site at http://www.pptvision.com

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Forward-Looking Statements
The discussion above contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties as described by PPT VISION's periodic filings.  Actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to the following: changes in worldwide general economic conditions, a change in the level of capital spending by electronic component manufacturers and cyclicality of capital spending by other customers, PPT VISION's ability to keep pace with technological developments and evolving industry standards, worldwide competition, and PPT VISION's ability to protect its existing
intellectual property from challenges from third parties and other factors. Additional information with respect to the risks and uncertainties faced by PPT VISION may be found in the section "Business" under the caption "Important Factors Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" contained in its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2000 and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.