Heavy Wheeled Compact Transporter Will Handle Increased Production At Aerospace Assembly Plant

    TUSTIN, Calif.--Jan. 7, 2002--SI Technologies, Inc. , which designs, manufactures and markets high-performance, industrial sensors, weighing and factory automation equipment and systems, today announced that its AeroGo, Inc. subsidiary has received a significant order to supply a 12.5-ton Self-Contained Autoclave Transporter for a major aerospace manufacturer.
    The contract calls for AeroGo to design and manufacture the transporter, which will be used to support a special composite processing autoclave. The new system will be installed at a plant that is part of an advanced helicopter manufacturing facility in the northeastern U.S. The highly compact AeroGo Transporter is equipped with advanced systems for precise maneuvering, efficient operation, controlled lift and integrated safety features. The transporter also incorporates several special proprietary AeroGo features, including high load-bearing wheel technology and controls for ultra-heavy load moving, Adaptive Suspension(TM) for uniformly distributed floor loading, and compact dual-drives with advanced Omni-Steer controls(TM).
    "We are very pleased that this leading aerospace manufacturer has selected one of AeroGo's custom-designed Transporters for its helicopter assembly plant," stated Rick Beets, President and Chief Executive Officer of SI Technologies, Inc. "The AeroGo Self-Contained Transporter packs a lot of flexibility and efficiency into a small envelope. For a battery-operated unit, the transporter is approximately half the size of anything else currently available in the market."
    The unit is 20 feet long by three feet wide and only 13 inches tall, so it easily fits under the lowest and narrowest loads. There are no rails, cords, air hoses, or fixed paths that the system must follow, thus allowing for complete flexibility by the operator to maneuver into various configurations and tight spaces for precise positioning. The transporter also provides lift, and it will avoid the floor damage that frequently originates from conventional steel-wheeled carts.
    AeroGo will design and manufacture the transporter at its facility in Seattle, Washington, where it has developed a 35-year reputation for quality specialized equipment that moves and positions ultra-heavy loads utilizing both solid tire and air/film floatation systems. The customer will be able to easily track the transporter project's progress with AeroGo's unique Project eView(TM) tracking interface, which provides digital design/manufacturing images from any designated PC.
    SI Technologies, Inc. is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of high-performance industrial sensors/controls, weighing and factory automation systems and related products. Its proprietary products enjoy leading positions in their respective markets, while sharing common technologies, manufacturing processes, and customers. The Company is positioned as an integrator of technologies, products and companies that are involved in the handling, measurement and inspection of goods and materials. SI Technologies' products are used throughout the world in a variety of industries, including aerospace, aviation, food processing and packaging, forestry, manufacturing, mining, transportation, warehousing/distribution, and waste management. The Company is headquartered in Tustin, California, and its common stock is traded on Nasdaq under the symbol "SISI."

    This press release includes statements which may constitute "forward-looking" statements, usually containing the words "believe," "estimate," "project," "expect" or similar expressions. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, continued acceptance of the Company's products in the marketplace, competitive factors, dependence upon third-party vendors, and other risks detailed in the Company's periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release.