KENT, Wash., Sept. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Flow International
Corporation (Nasdaq: FLOW), the world's leading supplier of
ultrahigh-pressure waterjet products, announced that it has received a
record number of orders for its waterjet systems at this year's
International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago in early
September. Flow's 2006 IMTS sales represent an 83% increase over its sales
at the last IMTS show in 2004. Held every other year, IMTS is one of the
largest industrial trade shows in the world, with more than 95,000
potential customers from 80 countries viewing over 1,200 company exhibits
spread out across 1.2 million square feet space.
"We continue to book orders from the most successful IMTS show in the
Company's history," said Stephen R. Light, Flow's President and Chief
Executive Officer. "During the eight days of IMTS, current and potential
customers were given the opportunity to see first hand why Flow is
indisputably the global leader in waterjets. In addition to showing the
breadth of our product line, we unveiled some of the fruits of our
investment in the next generation of waterjet technology, which is used
across the globe to cut everything from stone countertops to composite
airplane wings to custom motorcycle parts."
Orange County Choppers
Opening day at IMTS saw the unveiling of the new custom built Orange
County Choppers motorcycle, called the Flowjet. This motorcycle is their
first to demonstrate the capabilities of their new five axis waterjet
machining center, which is capable of fabricating parts in 3 dimensions and
is a machine similar to those used to fabricate composite aerospace
components. Orange County Choppers and Flow have enjoyed a very close
working relationship for the past few years since the introduction of the
first Flow waterjet cutting machine to their facility. To help define the
theme of the motorcycle, the team from Orange County visited Flow's
corporate headquarters and global ultrahigh pressure pump manufacturing
plant in Kent, Washington.
New Product Introductions
At IMTS, Flow formally unveiled a number of new industry-leading systems:
- Flow's 87,000 psi HyperPressure(TM) waterjet cutting system and new
Paser MACH4(TM) cutting head, which increases cutting speeds more than
30% compared to the 60,000 psi currently used in the industry.
Abrasive consumption is estimated to decrease nearly 40% when industry
norm cutting speeds are used. Flow provides every HyperPressure(TM)
system with one year of normally scheduled maintenance, and a ten year
structure guarantee, an industry first.
- Flow's MicroJet precision waterjet, a derivative of Flow's recently
introduced NanoJet(TM), which uses a 60,000 psi pump and linear drive
motion control for breakthrough accuracy, making it particularly suited
for the medical device industry and other markets that demand the
highest levels of accuracy;
- The HybridWire is a Waterjet EDM combination machine, introduced by
Flow and its Japanese partner, Sodick, Inc, after nearly two years of
development. Sodick is the world's foremost developer and manufacturer
of electrical discharge machining equipment. The Hybridwire combines
the speed of Flow's Dynamic(TM) waterjet cutting system with the
precision of electrical discharge machining, to bring unparalleled
productivity increases to the precision mold and die making industries.
It is estimated that depending on the specific application, part
cutting times can be reduced by as much as 80%.
About Flow International
Flow International Corporation is the world's leading developer and
manufacturer of ultrahigh-pressure waterjet cutting technology to
industries including automotive, aerospace, job shop, surface preparation,
and more. For more information, visit http://www.flowcorp.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to
future events or future financial performance that involve risks and
uncertainties. The words "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate,"
variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking
statements but their absence does not mean that the statement is not
forward-looking. These statements are only predictions and actual results
could differ materially from those anticipated in these statements based on
a number of risk factors, including those set forth in the April 30, 2006
Flow International Corporation Form 10-K Report filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission and estimates of future productivity increases.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements that speak only as of the date of this announcement.
The Company is under no obligation, and does not intend, to update any
of the forward looking statements in this press release.
Contact: Flow Investor Relations
253-813-3286
SOURCE Flow International Corporation
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