Photomatrix Receives Commitment from Bell & Howell

Scanner manufacturer Photomatrix (San Diego) has received a binding commitment worth over $1.5 million from

Bell & Howell (Arlington Heights, IL). The deal calls for Bell & Howell to purchase Photomatrix's Vision Series 5000 document scanners over a seven-month period, effective from December 1997, for reselling to distributors and VARs in the U.S. and Canada. Photomatrix has agreed to restrict its direct sales activities to the service bureau markets instead of indirect sales distribution channels. The agreement "helps avoid channel conflict," according to Bruce Moeller, president and GM of Bell & Howell's Information Management Products Group. "We believe that Photomatrix products provide a very powerful high-end solutions." Photomatrix president and CEO Suren Dutia adds that the agreement "is timely and will provide some predictability in managing our operations."