This Week on the Emerging Company Report TV Program ...

2 July 1998

This Week on the Emerging Company Report TV Program ...

    HOLLYWOOD--July 2, 1998--Emerging Company Report, the nationally syndicated television program that profiles emerging-growth companies (http://www.emergingcompany.com), features interviews this week with Rory Clarke, president of Universal Ice Blast Inc. (OTC BB:UIBI) and Rodney Smith, chief executive officer of Smith Midland Corp. .
    Universal Ice Blast manufactures and sells an industrial cleaning equipment line known as ice-blasting machines. "Ice-Blasting is a cleaner, more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional industrial cleaning methods like abrasive chemicals or sandblasting," said Clarke.
    "Our raw material is simply water. The ice-blasting machines, which sell from $65,000 to more than $125,000, are simply hooked up to a water source, like a garden hose, and they produce continuous streams of ice particles which safely clean industrial parts without damaging the surface."
    Universal Ice Blast's customers include Fortune 100 companies, including the Ford Motor Co.'s transmission development center.
    Smith Midland is a 40-year-old company, a pioneer in pre-cast concrete. Its flagship product, Slenderwall, has been called by the architectural industry "the most significant exterior wall system in the last four decades."
    "As building costs continue to skyrocket," said Smith, "the industry is continually looking to streamline costs while struggling to maintain and improve energy-efficiency needs and government-mandated safety regulations. Slenderwall allows exterior walls to be manufactured off-site and then erected on-site. The savings in time and costs are significant."
    The construction industry is the largest industry in the United States. Smith Midland is currently expanding its operation throughout the country through an innovative product licensing system.
    Also being looked at this week on the television program is SunCut Floral Network (OTC BB: BUDS), a wholesale provider of fresh flowers for supermarkets, retail chains and mass merchandisers. "When you see flowers in the supermarket, chances are they came from us," said President Alex Varonos. "The floral industry is a $15 billion business in the U.S. and roughly half of that is now coming from our segment of the market."
    SunCut has also been busy acquiring regional floral wholesale operations. "Our business plan calls for continued growth by acquisition," explained Varonos. "Presently, the floral industry is highly fragmented. By combining growers, wholesalers and distributors, we can achieve significant cost savings and growth opportunities."
    Emerging Company Report is seen Friday evenings at 11 ET/8 PT, and again Sunday morning at 11:30 ET/8:30 PT on 140 cable TV systems nationwide.
    The program is also broadcast "On-Demand" at its Web site, http://www.emergingcompany.com.