COGNEX INTRODUCES NEXT-GENERATION MACHINE VISION SYSTEM

Checkpoint System Brings Advanced Vision Technology And Ease-Of-Use to
Manufacturing Plants Worldwide

INTERNATIONAL INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING SHOW, Chicago, IL, March 14, 1994 --
Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ:CGNX) today introduced Checkpoint new machine
vision system designed to automate visual inspection on the factory floor.
Checkpoint is expected to broaden the use of machine vision in
manufacturing plants worldwide by delivering a new class of performance
and flexibility in an easy-to-use and affordable package.

Checkpoint combines Cognex's proven vision technology with a new and unique
graphical user interface that enables engineers with little programming or
machine vision experience to solve complex automated inspection tasks.

Until now, factory floor users of machine vision systems had two basic
kinds of systems they could purchase: 1) sophisticated, powerful systems
requiring both programming experience and vision experience, or 2) less
powerful, menu driven systems which do not require conventional
programming but do compromise on accuracy, reliability, and flexibility.

"Checkpoint has the potential to change the way machine vision is used on
the plant floor," observes Willard French, President of Acculine
Engineering of Watertown, CT, a system integrator and beta customer for
Checkpoint. "Previously, the systems we looked at were either simple to
operate or were very reliable we need both, but we had to choose between
one or the other."

"Judging from our early results, we're finding that this is the first
system that doesn't force that choice upon us. It's highly capable and
customizable, and yet it's very easy to use. There is a major need for
this type of machine vision technology on the plant floor."

The result of over 50 man years of research and development, Checkpoint is
based on Cognex's sophisticated machine vision technology that has been
field proven at more than 16,000 installations worldwide in a range of
industries. To simplify application development, it features a Microsoft
Windows user interface that combines ease-of-use with the power and
flexibility of a full programming language. On-line tutorials and on-line
context sensitive help screens are provided to bring new users up to speed
quickly.

Through this combination of ease-of-use with sophisticated vision
technology, manufacturing engineers can now create and implement accurate
and reliable automated inspection solutions without either C programming
expertise or in-depth knowledge of vision technology. Applications can be
solved in a matter of days, rather than the months-long development cycles
required by conventional machine vision systems.

Typical applications for Checkpoint include high speed inspection, assembly
verification, on-line dimensional gauging, and machine guidance.
Manufacturers of medical products, automotive components, computer 8
telecommunications products, consumer products, and electromechanical
components are expected to be major users of Checkpoint, though any high
volume manufacturer of discrete items could benefit by using the system.

A Checkpoint Starter System includes everything that a first time vision
user will need to develop and to deploy a vision solution: Checkpoint
vision software, Windows-based application development software (running
on the customer's own PC), Checkpoint Model 400 vision processor with
system enclosure, camera kit, color monitor, trackball, documentation, and
training course for an all-inclusive price of $23,900.

To deploy additional systems in the factory, the engineer need only
purchase the Checkpoint Vision System 400 with camera, monitor, and
optional touchscreen or trackball. Such configurations are priced under
$20,000 with discounts available for system integrators and volume users.

Cognex Corporation is a public company (NASDAQ:CGNX) and is the world's
leading supplier of machine vision systems. The company has installed over
16,000 machine vision systems in factories around the world. Headquartered
in Needham, Massachusetts, Cognex has support facilities in California,
Japan, France, Germany, and the U.K. The company employs 180 people
worldwide.

Cognex Corp
15 Crawford St, Needham, MA 02194
617-449-6030,  fax 617-449-4013

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