Applied Power Announces Relocation of APW Enclosures - C Fab Operations.

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 13, 1998--Applied Power Inc. (APW - NYSE) announced today that the Irish Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment officially opened the Tallaght plant of U.S. multinational company APW Enclosures - C Fab Operations. The plant will include the manufacture of electronic enclosures for the computer and telecommunications industries.

C Fab is relocating from its plant at Tallaght Business Park to nearby Airton Road due to growth and projected further expansion. The Company's acquisition of the 130,000 sq. ft. premises on a 15 acre site will enable it to considerably extend its range of products and customers served.

Established in 1981, C Fab is a high precision electronic enclosure manufacturer servicing the computer, datacom, and electronics industries. C Fab provides manufacturing services ranging from design concept through to full sheet metal and plastics fabrication, assembly, electronic integration and testing. The Irish facility acts as the European component of APW Enclosures global manufacturing strategy servicing customers like Hewlett Packard, Sun Microsystems, Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) and Silicon Graphics. C Fab also has significant Irish based customers including Stratus, DSC, Eutologic and Fore Systems.

Speaking at the official opening of the Airton Road facility, Mary Harney, the Irish Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment said, "This is a major day in the history of Tallaght. New life is being breathed back into the area. The skill mix that C Fab will need over the next few years is ideally suited to the skills profile of the people of the Tallaght area. At full production the new enterprise will pump millions of dollars into the local economy in a further major boost for Tallaght and west county Dublin."

Also speaking at the opening, Richard G. Sim, Chief Executive Officer of Applied Power, stated that it had been decided to expand the Irish operation because C Fab was already established in the European market and they viewed this as an opportunity for significant growth in Europe.

Sim added, "This is an excellent strategic location from which to further develop our European business. In C Fab we have found the ideal organization to assist us in this objective, particularly with the range of products they manufacture. Our decision was further aided by the general economic climate in Ireland, combined with a top-of-the-line commercial infrastructure and an educated and eager workforce."

Applied Power Inc., headquartered in Butler, Wisconsin, is a global company comprised of three business segments. Technical Environments and Enclosures provides technical furniture and electrical and electronic enclosure systems. Engineered Solutions supplies components and systems using actuation and vibration control technologies to a diverse group of OEM customers. Tools and Supplies provide industrial and electrical tools and accessories through various distributor and retail channels worldwide.

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    CONTACT:  Applied Power Inc.
               Robert C. Arzbaecher, 414/781-6600