FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Colleen Moore, Manager-Corporate Communications, EGS Gauging Inc.
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Greg Hannoosh, Next Step Communications
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EGS GAUGING INTRODUCES NEW NAME, NEW PRODUCTS AT CMM INTERNATIONAL 2003

Billerica, MA (April 14, 2003) . . . EGS Gauging, Inc. (formerly EGS Gaugings) has introduced its new name, and will launch a new product line, the SOLUTION 21, at CMM International 2003 in Chicago, April 14-17.

Since purchasing the company one year ago (April 1, 2002) in a management buyout from its former parent company, EGS Gauging International Inc., an Invensys Company, new company President John Sharood and Senior Vice Presidents Vince Chambers and Richard Murphy have overseen many positive changes for the newly independent company. Some highlights include:

• record sales: company sales in 2002 jumped 30% over sales in 2001
• improved internal operations: developmental resources grew 20%, service staffing was increased to the highest level ever at the company, and cycle times from order receipt to product shipping are now the fastest in the industry
• international growth: new offices were opened in Malaysia and China (see more information on these new offices below), and the company plans expansion into Eastern Europe
• new key accounts: EGS welcomed several major new customers including Exxon/Mobil, Foshan, Kimberly Clark and 3M
• new products: the company launched its robust new Mark III scanning frame in 2002, and developed the new economical SOLUTION 21 system (more information below), which is being launched at CMM.

Effective January 1, 2003, the new company identity was launched. The new company name and logo completes the transition of the company to independent ownership and operation, said Sharood. “We begin 2003 as the first full year of independence,” he said, “so the timing is perfect to introduce our new name and logo. EGS Gauging says it all. It allows customers and prospects to continue to know who we are with no confusion, by linking our past with our future.”

The company’s new identity will be on display at several key industry events in 2003, including the CMM International show in Chicago, April 14-17; and NPE 2003, also in Chicago, June 23-27. As part of the new identity program, the company’s web site also has a new URL: http://www.egsgauging.com. The website will be expanded in 2003 to include a customer self-service portal that allows customers to log-in with a secure password to check order status, download technical information, and perform other tasks.

New Product – SOLUTION 21

Like all EGS products, the new SOLUTION 21 system is specifically designed to provide film and sheet producers with a better capability to measure and control the thickness/basis weights of their web products. However, this new system has been designed as an attractive, low-cost option for converters who need excellent gauging performance but not all the “bells and whistles” available on the company’s higher end SYSTEM 21 product.

The new SOLUTION 21 features a Sr90 beta gauge mounted on a LPO scanner frame. This economical system is for applications requiring high end measurement only, or minimal automatic process control. It is the ideal platform for extruded sheet lines where the line speed and web width dictate that manual die control is the most cost effective method of operation. The Windows based software provides the operator with clear, fast, and accurate displays of web profile, average thickness/basis weight, and peak to peak thickness variation, to name a few. Feedback loops can be provided for machine direction controls such as extruder screw speed, line speed, etc.. Roll/ reporting is offered as a standard function within the system.

In line with all EGS products, SOLUTION 21 offers open communication possibilities allowing networking via standard communication protocols.

New Company Offices in Asia

As part of its international growth strategy, EGS is pleased to announce the opening of two new offices in Asia. The company has established an Asian headquarters office in Selangor, Malaysia, where Mr. Y.K. Chew has been appointed Managing Director for the Asia Pacific region. In addition, a new office has been opened in Shanghai, China, where Mr. Frank Fei will serve as EGS Sales Manager, supported by two service engineers.

“Some of our biggest orders have come from Asia over the past year,” said Sharood, “and we see enormous future potential there. We are pleased to announce that these new offices have been established to support our increased customer base throughout the region.”

Based in Billerica, Mass., EGS Gauging is a global provider of specialty measurement and control solutions for converters, and companies in the lightweight coating, aseptic coating, co-extrusion, and biaxially oriented film and sheet markets. The EGS product family also provides product measurement and control for a broad range of extrusion, coating, nonwovens, rubber, and metals processes.

For more information, visit www.egsgauging.com or contact EGS Gauging, Inc., 900 Middlesex Turnpike, Billerica, MA 01821, USA, Tel. 978-663-2300, Fax: 978-667-4033.