Can you provide a thumbnail description of your company's products and markets? We are a versatile manufacturer of electrical, optical and pneumatic cylindrical multi-pin connectors. VEAM is an acronym for "Vitteri e Affini-Milano." It was founded in 1936 as a screw machine house in Milano, Italy. Today, we are a leader in the harsh and hostile environment interconnect market, with locations in Italy, Germany, the U.K. and the U.S. Are you considered a leader in your markets? We participate in five key markets -- transportation, defense, entertainment, industrial and nuclear -- and hold leadership positions in three of them. In rail transportation, we are the market leader with custom design connectors for car-to-car connections, braking systems, speed-sensing and diagnostics. We are also the leader in the nuclear market, with the production of heavily customized connectors for in-containment and out-of-containment nuclear reactor power plants. In the entertainment area, our connectors are used in HMI lighting, used by movie makers to simulate real light, and in the portable power generation and lighting for road shows and rock concerts. We also provide connectors for the industrial and commercial market. Our largest strength in this area is robotics and industrial automation. VEAM also produces several Mil Spec and VG qualified connectors primarily used on ground fighting vehicles in the defense area. What sets you apart from the competition? We take our products from "seed to flower" and provide heavily customized solutions to our customers. Almost all our products are made to order and typically have rigid specifications. VEAM has the ability to design, test, manufacture and deliver products in a very short cycle time. We are definitely not a commodity player. We'll make anywhere from one connector to several thousand, depending on what the customer needs. Why were you a good fit for ITT Industries? We can get ITT Industries into markets that they have not historically been successful in. Our management, engineering and sales and marketing teams are extremely strong. This seems to fit well with the culture of management strength and engineering excellence at ITT. How will being part of ITT benefit you? ITT has been in the interconnect business for many years. Our previous two owners -- Litton and Northrup Grumman -- were great companies but, being large defense contractors, this wasn't their primary focus. ITT Industries, Cannon will certainly strengthen our position in areas where we don't yet have a dominant position -- primarily the commercial, industrial and medical markets. Will the acquisition change the way you operate? We are operating under Cannon Connectors Europe (CCE) value center, but we compete in very different markets than CCE, as well as some of the same markets. I am looking forward to the synergies between the people, products and capabilities of Cannon and VEAM that together will help us bring even more value to customers. What's the best part of being acquired by ITT? Besides having the ITT name above our company, I'd say it's ITT's commitment to this industry. This strategic acquisition will certainly give us the tools to continue with our long-range plans of supporting our global markets. Return to INQUIRING ABOUT OUR NEWEST ACQUISITIONS.			In rail transportation, VEAM is the market leader with custom design connectors for car-to-car connections, braking systems, speed-sensing and diagnostics.