Leica Microsystems has developed from five brand names, all with a long tradition: Wild, Leitz, Reichert, Jung and Cambridge Instruments. In 1990 The Wild Leitz and Cambridge Instruments groups merged to form the Leica group. 1996 saw the acquisition of Jenoptik, E-Beam Lithography business and the foundation of the Leica Microsystems Lithography in Jena. Leica Microsystems has a global presence comprising 12 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia/Pacific as well as a sales, distribution and service network of wholly owned subsidiaries and branches spanning 19 countries and a complementary network of some 200 dealers around the world. Leica Microsystems is a leading global designer and producer of innovative high-tech precision optics systems for the analysis of microstructures.