NATICK, MA, USA March 24, 2011

Cognex Expands VisionPro Surface Inspection Software Capabilities

Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX) announced the launch of version 2.1 of VisionPro® Surface inspection software for flat products. This release significantly expands the capabilities of VisionPro Surface from defect detection and classification on continuous products to automated inspection of sheeted products and gauging of crossweb and downweb features on both continuous and sheeted products.

VisionPro Surface is an easy-to-use, self-learning inspection and gauging software that is used to find critical surface defects that affect product quality or process efficiency. Unlike traditional surface inspection technologies that use signal processing to detect defects, VisionPro Surface works by monitoring the visual appearance of the material. The easy-to-use setup tools and visual user interface enable users at all levels to automatically inspect their products. The advanced defect detection tools, classification algorithms, and gauging tools enable users to easily address a broad variety of flat product inspection applications.

VisionPro Surface, version 2.1, now offers four different platforms that can be selected depending on the application to be solved, including the new VisionPro Surface Sheeting.

“VisionPro Surface Sheeting allows manufacturers of sheeted and continuous flat products to grade sheets, measure sheet geometry, and automatically detect sheet edges reliably and accurately using technology from the recognized leader in the machine vision industry,” said Dr. Markku Jaaskelainen, Executive Vice President and Business Unit Manager for Vision Software.

VisionPro Surface comes with:

• Easy-to-use setup tools
• Point-and-click application configuration
• Visual self-learning defect classification tools
• Robust gauging tools
• Automatic sheet edge detection
• Production unit grading
• Internet browser based reporting tools

Hardware components such as PCs, cameras, I/O, lights, encoders, and cabling can be purchased separately from Cognex, or from third-party vendors.

VisionPro Surface is available now.

Cognex Corporation (“the Company” or “Cognex”) invents and commercializes technologies that address some of the most critical manufacturing and distribution challenges. We are a leading global provider of machine vision products and solutions that improve efficiency and quality in high-growth-potential businesses across attractive industrial end markets. Our solutions blend physical products and software to capture and analyze visual information, allowing for the automation of manufacturing and distribution tasks for customers worldwide. Machine vision products are used to automate the manufacturing or distribution and tracking of discrete items, such as mobile phones, electric vehicle batteries and e-commerce packages, by locating, identifying, inspecting, and measuring them. Machine vision is important for applications in which human vision is inadequate to meet requirements for size, accuracy, or speed, or in instances where substantial cost savings or quality improvements are maintained.

Cognex is the world's leader in the machine vision industry, having shipped more than 4 million image-based products, representing over $10 billion in cumulative revenue, since the company's founding in 1981. Headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, USA, Cognex has offices and distributors located throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. For details, visit Cognex online at www.cognex.com.