EU Alliance with Alstom


Oxford Instruments PLC
26 June 2007



26th June 2007


                             Oxford Instruments plc

    Alstom Magnets and Superconductors and Oxford Superconducting Technology
                              announce EU Alliance



Oxford Instruments plc, a leading provider of high technology tools and systems
for industry and research, is pleased to announce the creation of an alliance
between its wholly owned subsidiary Oxford Superconducting Technology of
Carteret, NJ, USA, and Alstom Magnets and Superconductors of Belfort, France (a
wholly owned subsidiary of Alstom). The alliance will be focused on winning
supply contracts in the European Union for niobium-tin superconducting strand
for ITER, a joint international research and development project that aims to
demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion power.

ITER will be one of the largest scientific projects ever undertaken. The
facility will be built in Cadarache, France, a research centre for nuclear
energy created in 1959 by the Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique.

Nuclear fusion taps energy from reactions like those that heat the Sun, using
fuel sources that are abundantly available, and accessible to all nations.
Fusion is seen as a cleaner approach to power production than nuclear fission
and fossil fuels.

The ITER device is based on the tokamak concept, and will make extensive use of
niobium-tin superconducting magnets to contain the fusion reaction. More than
500 tonnes of niobium-tin superconducting strand will be used in the
construction of the ITER magnets, of which at least 90 tonnes, with an expected
market value of Euro47 million, are expected to be sourced in the EU. The Alstom -
Oxford Instruments consortium expects to be one of four manufacturers of
niobium-tin superconductors competing to supply EU ITER.

Commenting on the agreement, Steven Parker, President of Oxford Superconducting
Technology, and the Commercial Director for Oxford Instruments plc said, "I am
delighted with the opportunity to collaborate on the supply of conductor to
ITER. OST's advanced niobium-tin strand design and manufacturing technology,
coupled with the strong operational capabilities at Alstom, should provide a
very robust platform from which we can jointly supply the ITER project."



Enquiries:

Oxford Instruments plc                             Tel: 01865 393200

Kevin Boyd, Group Finance Director

Lynn Shepherd, Marketing Manager

Hogarth Partnership Limited                        Tel: 020 7357 9477

Rachel Hirst / Andrew Jaques / Ian Payne




Notes to Editors

Oxford Instruments plc designs, supplies and supports high-technology tools,
processes and solutions with a focus on physical science, bioscience,
environmental and industrial research and applications. It provides solutions
needed to advance fundamental nanoscience research and its transfer into
commercial nanotechnology applications. Innovation has been the driving force
behind Oxford Instruments' growth and success for over 40 years, and its
strategy is to effect the successful commercialisation of these ideas by
bringing them to market in a timely and customer-focused fashion.

The first technology business to be spun out from Oxford University over forty
years ago, Oxford Instruments is now a global company with over 1,300 staff
worldwide and a listing on the London Stock Exchange (OXIG). Its objective is to
be the leading provider of new generation tools and systems for the Physical
Science and Bioscience sectors.

This involves the combination of core technologies in areas such as low
temperature and high magnetic field environments; superconductivity; Nuclear
Magnetic Resonance; X-ray electron and optical based metrology, and advanced
growth, deposition and etching. Our products, expertise, and ideas address
global issues such as energy, environment, terrorism and health and are part of
the next generation of telecommunications, energy products, environmental
measures, security devices, drug discovery and medical advances.

ALSTOM is a global leader in the world of power generation and rail
infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally
friendly technologies. ALSTOM builds the fastest train and the highest capacity
automated metro in the world, and provides turnkey integrated power plant
solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources,
including hydro, gas and coal. The Group employs 65,000 people in 70 countries,
and had orders of Euro19 billion in 2006/07.




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            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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