General Scanning Announces Resignation of Board Member

20 October 1998

    WATERTOWN, Mass., Oct. 19 -- Paul Ferrari, Chairman of the
Board of General Scanning Inc. today announced that
Pierre J. Brosens, Sc.D. had tendered his resignation as a Director of the
Company.  Mr. Ferrari stated that the resignation had been accepted with deep
regrets and noted that Dr. Brosens was a founder of the Company and his
contributions since inception had been vital to the growth and success of the
company.  Mr. Ferrari stated further that Dr. Brosen's resignation as a
director was made for personal reasons and that this did not preclude his
continuing service to the Company in some other capacity.
    To the extent this news release discusses information or expectations
about General Scanning's products or markets, or otherwise makes statements
about the future, such statements are forward looking and are subject to a
number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from the statements made.  Such risks include risks associated with
the market acceptance of General Scanning's products, and other risks detailed
in Company's Form 10-K that has been filed in connection with the 1997 fiscal
year and Form 10-Q filed with respect to the second quarter 1998.

    General Scanning Inc., headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts, develops
and manufactures a broad line of laser systems for a wide range of
applications in the medical, semiconductor, automotive, electronics and
aircraft industries.  In addition, the Company produces a line of laser
subsystems and components which are used in the Company's own systems as well
as sold to other manufacturers of laser systems.  General Scanning also
designs and manufactures under ISO 9001 certification a line of thermal
printers primarily for leading medical instrument companies.
    For more information about General Scanning, visit the company on the
Internet at http://www.genscan.com.