SANTA CLARA, CA - Agilent Technologies has acquired Taiwan-based Escort Instruments, a supplier of test and measurement instruments and a subsidiary of Unitech PCB.

According to an Agilent press release, Escort's R&D, marketing, IP and instrument product portfolio will become part of Agilent's electronic measurements business, and 20 Escort Instruments' employees have transferred to Agilent’s Taipei office as part of the agreement.

According to a posting on the Escort Instruments website, as of June 11, all products have been discontinued and line of Agilent instruments based on Escort's technology will be introduced beginning in Q4 of 2008.

Ee Huei Sin, VP of the basic instruments division at Agilent, said, "Escort Instruments' assets will offer Agilent customers an expanded portfolio of low-cost instruments, and the R&D expertise to continue to grow this product line for the future."