Leeds Precision Instruments to Represent Olympus Industrial Microscopes in Midwest, Mountain States, Texas

Olympus Further Strengthens Sales and Service Capability in the U.S.

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., March 4, 2010 – Olympus America Inc. continues to build its industrial instrument distribution network, naming Leeds Precision Instruments, Inc., to handle distribution of Olympus Industrial Microscope products in an expanded region to include Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming and eastern Idaho. The company also will continue to represent Olympus in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and Texas.

“Leeds provides excellent service to our customers in both the biological and industrial instrument arenas,” said Matt Smith, director of sales and marketing for Olympus America’s Scientific Equipment Group – Industrial Microscopes. “With Leeds’ custom design capability, systems integration and commitment to service and training, it is a respected resource for industrial users and a valued partner to Olympus.”

“Leeds’ custom design and engineering capabilities, combined with Olympus microscopes’ legendary optical quality and mechanical reliability, allow us to offer integrated solutions for the most demanding industrial applications,” said John Crouch, CEO of Leeds. “Our team of technical sales representatives and field service technicians, supported by Olympus, provides the highest level of training, service and preventative maintenance to our users, helping them design and produce better products with even greater efficiency and productivity.”

In addition to expanding its dealer network, Olympus has, over the past year, introduced a new flagship product, the LEXT OLS4000® laser confocal microscope. Further, the company has built its existing nationwide support and service network with new personnel, features and enhanced availability and response times.

To contact Leeds Precision Instruments, Inc., email Curt Morrison at: cmorrison@leedsmicro.com or phone (800) 444-5333. To contact Olympus, email Matt Smith at: matt.smith@olympus.com or phone (484) 896-5300.

About Olympus Scientific Equipment Group – Industrial Microscopes
Olympus industrial microscopes and metrology systems play a leading role in precision R&D, engineering and manufacturing applications in fields as diverse as aerospace, the automotive industry, electronics, materials science/metallurgy, medical devices, photovoltaics, and semiconductors. Olympus continues to be a leader in optical design and advanced quality innovation. For more information, visit www.olympusamerica.com/industrialmicroscopes

About Olympus
Olympus is a precision technology leader, creating innovative opto-digital solutions in healthcare, life science and consumer electronics products.

Olympus works collaboratively with its customers and its affiliates worldwide to leverage R&D investment in precision technology and manufacturing processes across diverse business lines. These include:

· Gastrointestinal endoscopes, accessories, and minimally invasive surgical products;
· Advanced clinical and research microscopes;
· Digital cameras and voice recorders.

Olympus serves the healthcare field with integrated product solutions and financial, educational and consulting services that help customers to efficiently, reliably and more easily achieve exceptional results. Olympus develops breakthrough technologies with revolutionary product design and functionality for the consumer and professional photography markets, and also is the leader in gastrointestinal endoscopy and clinical and educational microscopes. For more information, visit www.olympusamerica.com

About Leeds
Leeds Precision Instruments, Inc., one of the largest microscope dealers in the US, has been in business for more than 41 years. Leeds is an authorized Olympus dealer in Minnesota, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Eastern Idaho. Leeds’ microscope repair, service and custom products departments help customers meet their microscopy needs. For more information on Leeds, visit www.leedsmicro.com