NEENAH, Wis., May 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Plexus Corp. (Nasdaq: PLXS - News) announced today that it has been selected to develop QIAGEN's next generation automated screening system for the pre-processing of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA samples. This product provides a highly automated solution to a current manual process, through sophisticated robotic motions. QIAGEN is the market leader in DNA based screening for HPV; a virus that has an established link to cervical cancer. This contract for the final development phase builds on the existing collaboration which led to the first prototypes.
"We are thrilled about our partnership with QIAGEN, as it pairs two world-class companies to create an industry leading product," stated Steve Frisch, Sr. Vice President, Global Engineering Services. "Plexus sees this relationship as an indication of how we can utilize our full suite of engineering capabilities, coupled with our complete Product Realization Services, to provide mechatronic solutions for our customers developing complex medical equipment."
"Plexus' proven track record of assisting customers in bringing complex medical devices to market, coupled with its ability to quickly staff this program from its five Global Design Centers, made them an ideal partner," commented Dr. Jim Godsey, Sr. Vice President, North America Research & Development at QIAGEN. "Thanks to this partnership we will be able offer a unique frontend solution for our next generation high through-put screening platform, which will help QIAGEN further maintain its market leadership in the Life Sciences and diagnostics markets."
About Qiagen
QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands holding company, is the leading global provider of sample and assay technologies. Sample technologies are used to isolate and process DNA, RNA and proteins from biological samples such as blood or tissue. Assay technologies are used to make such isolated biomolecules visible. QIAGEN has developed and markets more than 500 sample and assay products as well as automated solutions for such consumables. The Company provides its products to molecular diagnostics laboratories, academic researchers, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and applied testing customers for purposes such as forensics, animal or food testing and pharmaceutical process control. QIAGEN's assay technologies include one of the broadest panels of molecular diagnostic tests available worldwide. This panel includes the first FDA-approved test for human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer. QIAGEN employs more than 3,000 people in over 30 locations worldwide. Further information about QIAGEN can be found at http://www.qiagen.com/.
About Plexus Corp. - The Product Realization Company
Plexus (www.plexus.com) is an award-winning participant in the Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) industry, providing product design, supply chain and materials management, manufacturing, test, fulfillment and aftermarket solutions to branded product companies in the Wireline/Networking, Wireless Infrastructure, Medical, Industrial/Commercial and Defense/Security/Aerospace market sectors.
The Company's unique Focused Factory manufacturing model and global supply chain solutions are strategically enhanced by value-added product design and engineering services. Plexus specializes in mid- to low-volume, higher-mix customer programs that require flexibility, scalability, technology and quality.
Plexus provides award-winning customer service to more than 100 branded product companies in North America, Europe and Asia.
Safe Harbor and Fair Disclosure Statement
The statements contained in this release which are guidance or which are not historical facts (such as statements in the future tense and statements including "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "goal," "target" and similar terms and concepts), including all discussions of periods which are not yet completed, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These factors include risks relating to many new program wins such as: the lack of track record for the product; customer forecasts not resulting in the expected revenues and profitability; the degree of consumer acceptance of the new product; the effect of the economy on product introduction; and our ability to manufacture items that we have not previously produced. In addition, other risks and uncertainties affecting our business and our ability to grow and prosper in the future include, but are not limited to: the economic performance of the electronics, technology and defense industries; the risk of customer delays, changes or cancellations in both ongoing and new programs; the poor visibility of future orders, particularly in view of current economic conditions; the effects of the volume of revenue from certain sectors or programs on our margins in particular periods; our ability to secure new customers and maintain our current customer base and deliver product on a timely basis; the risks relative to new customers, including a new confidential customer in the Industrial/Commercial sector, which risks include customer delays, start-up costs, our potential inability to execute and lack of a track record of order volume and timing; the risks of concentration of work for certain customers; the weakness of the global economy and the continuing instability of the global financial markets and banking system, including the potential inability on our part or that of our customers or suppliers to access cash investments and credit facilities; material cost fluctuations and the adequate availability of components and related parts for production; the effect of changes in average selling prices; the effect of start-up costs of new programs and facilities, including our recent and planned expansions, such as our new facility in Oradea, Romania; the adequacy of restructuring and similar charges as compared to actual expenses, including the recently completed closure of our Ayer, Massachusetts facility and workforce reductions at our Juarez, Mexico facility and other North American facilities; the degree of success and the costs of efforts to improve the financial performance of our Mexican operations; possible unexpected costs and operating disruption in transitioning programs; the potential effect of world events (such as changes in oil prices, terrorism, epidemics, drug cartel-related violence in Juarez, Mexico and war in the Middle East); the impact of increased competition; and other risks detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings (particularly in Part II, Item 1A of our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 4, 2009).
