PALO ALTO, Calif.--Dec. 2, 2002-- Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (NYSE: VAR)today announced it has acquired the assets of MRW GmbH, a prominent reloader and distributor of medical X-ray tubes in Germany. Reloaders rebuild expired X-ray tubes by removing the core, putting a new core in, and re-sealing it within an oil-filled housing. The newly-acquired assets will become part of Varian's X-Ray Products business based in Salt Lake City, Utah. MRW will assemble replacement tubes in Dusseldorf, Germany, from components produced at Varian's manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City. "MRW has been successful in developing and implementing a reloading process to support the distribution of Varian's X-ray tubes in Germany. We intend to use that process to provide superior product quality and customer service throughout the European medical market," said Robert Hibdon, Vice President and General Manager of Varian X-Ray Products' Interay group, a Charleston, SC-based manufacturing and distribution arm of Varian's X-Ray Products business. "By having inventory in Europe as well as a responsive technical and marketing team, we expect to grow our X-ray business in the European Union. We also expect certain advantages to manufacturing inside the European Union." The company expects to benefit from reduced trans-Atlantic freight costs. "Now we will be servicing Europe from Dusseldorf instead of Charleston," said Hibdon. "By having a facility in Germany, Varian is making its tubes more cost effective and more readily accessible to the European market." Founded in 1996, privately held MRW sold over $1 million of Varian product in calendar year 2001. The new facility will offer X-ray tubes and repair services throughout Europe in support of the X-ray products marketing group located in Houten, The Netherlands. Varian's X-ray Products business is the world's premier independent supplier of X-ray tubes. The company provides the industry's broadest selection of X-ray tubes expressly designed for the most advanced diagnostic applications, including CT scanning, radiography, and mammography. These products meet evolving requirements for improved resolution, faster patient throughput, longer tube life, smaller dimensions, and greater cost efficiency.