KRISTIANSTAD, SWEDEN – A record 80 athletes from 25 countries meet this month at the Paralympics 2008 in China to contest in the sailing competition. The Kristianstad, Sweden, facility of Danaher Motion which manucturers Thomson brand motion control products will sponsor this year’s crew of the Swedish National Sailing Team. Gustaf Fresk and Birgitta Jacobsson-Nilén are campaigning in a SKUD 18 keelboat. For the regatta, both sailors are stationed on a seat in the centre line of the boat. A Thomson Pro Series actuator built in underneath the seat assembly moves the sailors sideways while sailing their boat.

The Skud 18, designed by an Australian company, is one of the first skiffs with a keel and combines non-physical sailing with quick dinghy-characteristics. The skiff reaches 15 knots speed on windy days and it carries 35 m² sail area with the asymmetrical spinnaker up and draws 1.7 m with a 150 kg lead bulb at the bottom of the retractable centreboard. There are slight modifications in equipment in order to suit the athlete's ability. The yachts used in Paralympic competition have keels, mainly because this design provides greater stability. These keelboats have open cockpits to allow more room for the sailors. Sailors race under the fleet racing format, meaning all yachts race the course at the same time.

About Danaher Motion
Danaher Motion is a leading global manufacturer of motion control products that improve the efficiency and productivity of complex manufacturing operations. Danaher Motion’s product innovations have been revolutionizing the motion control industry for over 60 years through trusted brand names including Dover, Kollmorgen and Thomson. Danaher Motion is a strategic business platform of the Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR), a manufacturer of process and environmental controls, tools and industrial components.

About Thomson
Thomson is the premiere producer of rugged linear actuators, linear bearings and guides, ball screws and related linear motion control products.? Thomson pioneered the development of the ball bushing linear bearing in 1945, and has set the standard ever since with an unparalleled breadth and depth of linear motion solutions. Thomson is a trusted brand of Danaher Motion and serves a wide range of markets and customers through an unsurpassed set of mechanical motion control products.

Thomson, 1500?Mittel Boulevard, Wood Dale, IL 60191-1073; 1-540-633-3549; 1-540-633-0294 (fax);[email protected]; www.thomsonlinear.com.