Automation Solutions Provider With 100 Years of Experience Combined

    AKRON, Ohio--July 25, 2002--B.W. Rogers Company and Exonic Systems, Inc., two established leaders in the distribution and integration of automation products and services, announced today that they are merging to provide their customers with a broader range of automation solutions than has previously been available through a single organization.
    B.W. Rogers, headquartered in Akron, Ohio, has served the Midwest with reliable pneumatic and hydraulic solutions since 1928.
    Exonic Systems, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has provided the tri-state area with comprehensive electro-mechanical solutions since 1978.
    But, in today's rapidly evolving marketplace, both companies now believe that old-fashioned supplier specialization is actually making it harder for customers to find solutions. Too often, that specialization forces customers to gather competing recommendations from separate pneumatic, hydraulic, and electro-mechanical vendors, filter out each one's bias toward his own technology -- and then, not only to select the best solution, but assemble the team of secondary suppliers necessary to support that technology.
    By pooling their resources and streamlining the process, B.W. Rogers and Exonic Systems will make it more convenient for customers to find the right application solution by offering best-of-breed products for all automation technologies -- along with the experienced engineering integration, service, and repair capabilities to support the complete life-cycle of motion control applications.
    "Now customers can address all their automation needs with a single phone call," said Rick Rogers, President of B.W. Rogers. "And they don't have to worry about supplier bias for or against any technology, because we can design, install, and service it all."
    "We believe this new, full-spectrum, customer-oriented approach is going to be the wave of the future for the whole industry," said David Mack, President of Exonic Systems. "And we're especially proud to join with B.W. Rogers in leading it there. Together, we have more experience in this field than anyone in America."
    Although the companies will consolidate some headquarters functions, they intend to continue providing customers the same growing selection of products and services through the same expanding network of offices.