Issaquah, Wash., and Milan, Italy — July 23, 2001 — Applied Precision, Inc. has signed Elcomind s.r.l. as the company's Italian distributor. Elcomind will distribute three key Applied Precision products: the arrayWoRx^eTM, Applied Precision's newly introduced biochip reader; the DeltaVision, a restoration microscopy system; and softWoRx, a 3-D image processing system for microscopy applications.

Applied Precision and the Italian market will benefit from Elcomind's experience in distributing technical products in Italy. As Joe Ahladis, vice president of Sales, Marketing and Customer Service for Applied Precision, explains, "Italy now has access to complete systems for automated digital image capture and image processing analysis on biological samples - from a distributor that understands Italian customers' needs." Based on highly innovative technologies, these newly available systems offer high-level performance to scientific researchers in academic institutions and to biotechnology research and production. Key features of Applied Precision's product line include superior resolution and detail, combined with high speed and automation.

"I'm proud that we're adding biotechnology research products as an area of our distribution expertise," said G.H. Ravanello, president of Elcomind. "As more of Elcomind's customers enter the growing biotechnology arena with a need for digital image acquisition and analysis, proven innovators like Applied Precision will meet Italy's need for biotechnology resources."

About Elcomind

Based in Milan, Elcomind offers purchasing, testing, production, and software product and service areas. Elcomind is the purchasing office for the Italian market of the Robert Bosch Group and its subsidiaries and Bosch-Siemens Hausgeräte and supplies automatic testing equipment to producers of electronic equipments and semiconductors. Elcomind has been a successful distributor of Applied Precision's semiconductor products since 1996. Elcomind also supplies project management software and other technical equipment to the Italian manufacturing industry. For more information about Elcomind, go to www.elcomind.it.

About Applied Precision, Inc.

Applied Precision Inc. is the leading provider of measurement, analysis and process-control systems for semiconductor test, assembly and packaging, as well as biomedical and biotechnology research and analysis (especially cell microscopy, genomics and proteomics). Applied Precision's specialized systems are based on precisionware^TM, the company's unique convergence of mechanics, electronics and software, enabling advancements in the world's core technologies. Applied Precision can be reached in the United Kingdom at +44 1672 518350 or in the United States at (425) 557-1000 and can be located on the Web at www.appliedprecision.com.

Contacts:

Applied Precision, Inc.
Joe Ahladis
Vice President, Sales, Marketing
And Customer Service
Tel: +1-425-557-1000
Fax: +1-425-557-1055
Email: jahladis@api.com

Elcomind, s.r.l
Andrea Croce
Centro Uffici Reti
20124 Milano
Viale Restelli, 18
P. 1VA 09278860151
Tel: 02.67.073.004.r.a.
Telefax: 02.67.073.007
Email: a.croce@elcomind.it