FEI Introduces New Correlative Workflow Solution for Life Sciences

MAPS Software Combines the Advantages of Both Light and Electron Microscopy for Cellular Biology Research

DENVER, Dec. 5, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FEI (Nasdaq:FEIC), a leading instrumentation company providing imaging and analysis systems for research and industry, today announced a new correlative workflow solution for research scientists. FEI's MAPS (Modular Automated Processing System) provides a fast and efficient correlative workflow that enables researchers to see both large scale context and small scale detail in one overview. The first application of the MAPS software is for cell biologists, where the system's capabilities improve the typical workflow in a cell biology microscopy laboratory. The solution was introduced at the American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting, taking place December 3-7, 2011 in Denver .

MAPS provides an easy-to-use workflow to import and correlate an image from any type or brand light microscope with the ultrastructure obtained from an FEI scanning electron microscope (SEM) or DualBeam™ (focused ion beam/SEM) system. Researchers can then quickly navigate to a region of interest identified in the light image, bringing to bear the full resolving power of the electron microscope to reveal ultrastructural detail. MAPS also enables the assembly of high-resolution, large-field images by automatically acquiring a grid of smaller electron microscope image tiles and stitching them together in a composite image that can reveal large scale relationships and organization, while still preserving full resolution detail throughout. 

"The functionality and automation within MAPS is new to the industry," noted Dominique Hubert, vice president and general manager for the Life Sciences Business Unit of FEI. "We can work with digital images from any light microscope, so light microscopists can now leverage the SEM's high resolving power to see biological details in a new way. MAPS offers electron microscopists a rapid navigation technique that will enable them to save time when finding regions of interest before zooming in for ultrastructural details. The wide field and high resolution of the stitched images provide an innovative combination of contextual information and ultrastructural detail."

"In addition to the life sciences, we see potential benefits of MAPS in others industries, such as oil & gas, mining, electronics and materials science," said Hubert.

The MAPS software is available now for current FEI SEM and DualBeam systems. For more information, visit www.fei.com/maps or stop by booth 109 at the American Society for Cell Biology show.

About FEI

FEI (Nasdaq:FEIC) is a leading diversified scientific instruments company. It is a premier provider of electron- and ion-beam microscopes and solutions for nanoscale applications across many industries: industrial and academic materials research, life sciences, semiconductors, data storage, natural resources and more. With more than 60 years of technological innovation and leadership, FEI has set the performance standard in transmission electron microscopes (TEM), scanning electron microscopes (SEM) and DualBeams™, which combine a SEM with a focused ion beam (FIB). Headquartered in Hillsboro, Ore., USA, FEI has over 2,000 employees and sales and service operations in more than 50 countries around the world. More information can be found at: www.fei.com.

The FEI Company logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6379

FEI Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements that include statements regarding the performance capabilities and benefits of the MAPS solution. Factors that could affect these forward-looking statements include but are not limited to failure of the product or technology to perform as expected and achieve anticipated results, unexpected technology problems and our ability to manufacture, ship and deliver the tools or software as expected. Please also refer to our Form 10-K, Forms 10-Q, Forms 8-K and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for additional information on these factors and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. FEI assumes no duty to update forward-looking statements.

CONTACT: Sandy Fewkes (media contact)

         MindWrite Communications, Inc

         +1 408 224 4024

         sandy@mind-write.com



         FEI Company

         Fletcher Chamberlin (investors and analysts)

         Investor Relations

         +1 503 726 7710

         fletcher.chamberlin@fei.com

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