EaglePicher Enters Indian Marketplace With Commercial Batteries

Teams With Industry Leader SAR

NEW DELHI, India, Feb. 24 -- EaglePicher Incorporated (Phoenix, Ariz.) and SAR Silicon Systems Pvt. Ltd. (New Delhi, India) are working together to bring the latest in battery technology to India, the country with one of the world's fastest growing economy. With decades of experience in building power solutions for defense and space applications, EaglePicher is providing technological know-how to SAR, the number-one provider of inverters in India.

Under the agreement between the two companies, SAR will begin marketing batteries in March 2004 under the Luminous EaglePicher brand. These batteries include automotive batteries as well as Valve Regulated Lead Acid batteries for use in Uninterruptible Power Sources (UPS). Shortly thereafter, SAR will introduce batteries for back-up power to sell along with its inverters.

"This is an opportune time for EaglePicher to enter the Indian commercial marketplace," said Craig Kitchen, president and CEO of EaglePicher Technologies, LLC. "In the booming Indian economy, the number of carmakers has expanded from 1 or 2 to more than 10, and the number of cars on the road is growing exponentially."

Kitchen added, "EaglePicher is the world leader in aerospace battery design and manufacturing and is also known for its broad range of solutions for commercial power applications. In addition to state-of-the-art technology, EaglePicher brings rigorous application of Six Sigma and project management methodologies as well as ISO 9001 certification."

Rakesh Malhotra, Managing Director, SAR Silicon Systems Pvt. Ltd., said, "The technology development and R&D in the battery industry in India has not kept pace with global standards due to lack of effective competition in the industry. Recognizing the need to bring superior technology automotive and VRLA batteries, SAR has entered into the technology transfer and licensing agreement with EaglePicher Incorporated."

"EaglePicher is proud to team with SAR, a leader in its own right in the areas of UPS systems, power conditioning and emergency power," said Nishith Dave, vice president and managing director, India and Global Sourcing for EaglePicher Technologies, LLC. Our areas of expertise are highly complementary. Together EaglePicher and SAR will bring innovation to power applications in India."

"EaglePicher offers a heritage of high quality and exceptional workmanship and brings the expertise of some of the world's top scientific and engineering talent," Dave added. "We are pleased to 'raise the bar' on battery technology while making it affordable for the Indian consumer."

For more information about EaglePicher power solutions, access www.eaglepicher.com.

EaglePicher Technologies, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of EaglePicher Incorporated, has facilities in Arizona, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and Canada. The operating group develops and markets advanced high-reliability power systems and associated electronics for government, space and commercial applications. It also processes Boron isotopes, anticancer pharmaceutical ingredients and ultra clean scientific containers. Areas of global focus include telecommunications, medical, nuclear power plants, space, defense, environmental, semiconductors and pharmaceutical/biotech. Additional information is available on the Internet at www.eaglepicher.com.

EaglePicher Incorporated, founded in 1843 and headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of innovative, advanced technology and industrial products and services for space, defense, environmental, automotive, medical, filtration, pharmaceutical, nuclear power, semiconductor and commercial applications worldwide. The company has 4,000 employees and operates more than 30 plants in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the U.K. and Germany. Additional information on the company is available on the Internet at www.eaglepicher.com.