The news is part of a broader announcement in which the Contex Group (Allerød, Denmark), a subsidiary of Ratos AB (Stockholm, Sweden), signed an agreement to sell its subsidiaries Vidar Systems Corp. and Z Corp. (Burlington, MA, USA) to 3D Systems for USD 137 million in cash. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close rapidly after approvals are obtained. It is anticipated that the closing could occur by the end of 2011 or early in 2012.

“By joining 3D Systems, we expect to continue to deliver high quality medical imaging products and expand our core imaging business using 3D’s medical technologies,” said Vidar Systems’ global president, Joseph LaPorta. “Our vision has always been to expand our core technology into areas that were not previously accessible to Vidar. Together with 3D’s strong footprint into healthcare--medical models, surgical guides, hearing aids, dental applications, and implantable devices--Vidar expects to develop applications and products that enhance our current offering as well as to move into more elaborate healthcare initiatives. ”

“We believe that the strong strategic fit between our businesses, combined with expanded capabilities in product development, channel coverage, manufacturing, and marketing, could present sizeable cost and revenue synergies that together offer significant long-term customer benefits, and shareholder value,” commented Abe Reichental, president and CEO of 3D Systems.

Vidar Systems and is a global market leader in medical film digitizers, with more than 22,000 digitizers installed.

3D Systems is a provider of 3D content-to-print solutions including three-dimensional (3D) printers, print materials, and on-demand custom parts services for professionals and consumers. The company also provides creative content development, design productivity tools, and curation services and downloads. Its integrated solutions replace, displace, and complement conventional methods and reduce the time and cost of designing new products by printing real parts directly from digital input.

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