Key Technology Receives Progressive 100 Manufacturer Award

June 02, 2009 – Key Technology, Inc. announced today that it is a winner of the 2009 Progressive Manufacturing 100 (PM100) Award, presented by Managing Automation Media, a Thomas Publishing Company, LLC publication.  The global Progressive Manufacturing Awards Program recognizes best-in-class manufacturers from the US and abroad.  Key Technology was recognized among 100 outstanding manufacturers that were selected based on the scope of mastery, business integration, and use of technology.

Key Technology was named to the PM100 for its implementation of Salesforce.com, the industry leading on-demand customer relationship (CRM) management platform. With Salesforce.com Key Technology is able to maximize customer service by tracking, responding to and targeting the needs of its world-wide customers through accurate data and centralized information.

David Camp, President and CEO of Key Technology commented, “We are proud to be honored with this prestigious award, as it recognizes our commitment to improving our internal processes which enable us to deliver best-in-class products and services to our customers”.

Judged by an independent panel of publication management, industry analysts, industry executive and past winning companies, the PM100 recognizes 100 projects that have achieved distinction in at least one of the eight core disciplines critical to business success in the years ahead. Key Technology and the other PM100 winners will be honored and presented with their awards at the Progressive Manufacturing Summit 2009, June 9-11, in Sarasota, Florida.  Randy Unterseher, Key’s Senior Director Marketing will attend the event and receive the award on behalf of the Company.

“In the face of one of the worst economic downturns in history, these winning companies dramatically underscore how the manufacturing industry will not only get through this period but emerge in an even stronger position once a recovery takes hold,” said David R. Brousell, Editor-in-Chief of Managing Automation Media. “The projects that enabled these companies to become PM100 winners reflect great creativity and inventiveness, a determined willingness to take risk, and an enduring resilience to continually improve every aspect of their business. These companies are leading the way to a better future for all industry.”

About Key Technology, Inc.

Key Technology, an ISO-9001 certified company, is a leading designer and manufacturer of process automation systems, integrated electro-optical inspection and sorting systems, and processing systems. Key® systems help processors to improve quality, increase yield, and reduce cost. With worldwide sales representation, the company maintains demonstration and testing facilities at its headquarters and manufacturing divisions in Walla Walla, Washington, USA, and at Key Technology BV in Beusichem, the Netherlands.  The company's common stock trades on the Global Market tier of The NASDAQ Stock MarketSM under the symbol: KTEC.