Fluke Networks acquires Microtest

Fluke Networks Inc., Everett, Wash., has agreed to acquire Microtest Inc., Phoenix, one of the largest independent test equipment manufacturers in the United States.

Microtest manufactures network test and measurement products and sells them worldwide. Fluke Networks, part of the Danaher group of companies, acquired Fotec Inc., Medford, Md., earlier this year. Both Fluke Networks and Fotec are makers of testing and diagnostic products. Fluke Networks has annual revenues of around $150 million.

The company said this acquisition would help it remain competitive in an environment where other test and measurement companies are consolidating.

Paul Stone, worldwide communications manager for Fluke Networks, named Agilent, Palo Alto, Calif.; Textron/Greenlee, Providence, R.I.; and Ideal Industries Inc., Sycamore, Ill., as competitors in the test equipment market growing through acquisitions.

Citing further reasons for the purchase of Microtest, which did $44.6 million in business last year, Stone said the companies were quite complementary, even though their product offerings were somewhat similar.

“Microtest has been very strong selling to the contractor companies. Fluke Networks has found tremendous success in selling to the IT departments. Even where we might sell similar products, we've found our sales to be going to different segments of the market, which made the deal very complementary.”