Astro-Med Expands Line of Wax-Resin Thermal Transfer Ribbon Products.

WEST WARWICK, R.I. -- The QuickLabel Systems Product Group of Astro-Med, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALOT) today announced it has expanded its line of thermal transfer ribbon products. Thermal transfer ribbons, analogous to typewriter ribbons, are the source of the printing ink in thermal transfer printing technology. Engineered for flawless ink distribution, the ribbons are of paramount importance to print quality.

According to the company, the new wax-resin ribbons were specially developed for use with QuickLabel Systems brand multi-color thermal transfer label printers. The new wax-resin ribbons also produce high quality printing when used with other brands of monochrome thermal transfer printers. QuickLabel Systems' wax-resin ribbon line is the direct result of collaboration between its Media R&D and its Printer R&D groups.

While most wax-resin ribbons in the industry are used in barcode printing applications, QuickLabel Systems' wax-resin ribbons are designed for printing multi-color labels for primary display packaging in addition to single-color supply chain and logistics labels. QuickLabel Systems multi-color printers are often used in retail display labeling of foods and beverages, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products.

QuickLabel Systems currently offers dozens of ribbon colors in wax formulations and resin formulations. Low-cost wax ribbons, which cannot withstand abrasion or solvents, are typically used for low-end paper material labeling applications such as warehouse label printing. Premium resin ribbons, which provide high tolerance to environmental challenges such as abrasion, UV light exposure, moisture, and solvents, are frequently used on gloss synthetic materials in high-end labeling applications. Wax-resin ribbons tolerate intermediate abrasion and solvent exposure, are suited for printing on frequently used substrates such as coated paper and matte synthetic materials, and are offered at a moderate price.

"We are pleased to offer our customers a greater selection of products at an economical price point," said Elias Deeb, Vice President of Media Products. "The expansion of our wax-resin ribbon family allows Astro-Med to target sales in an increased number of labeling applications."

Deeb continued, "The new depth of our ribbon offering will stimulate more use among QuickLabel printer customers while also attracting owners of other-brand thermal transfer printers to become new customers of QuickLabel ribbon products, enhancing our position as a leading US manufacturer and provider of thermal transfer ribbons."

Astro-Med, Inc. is a USA-based manufacturer and direct supplier of a broad range of thermal transfer ribbons and multi-color digital label printers utilizing thermal transfer printing technologies. Astro-Med also manufactures label applicators, print-and-apply systems, label design software, and labels and tags employed around the world in a wide range of industrial applications. Astro-Med's label printing products are sold by its QuickLabel Systems Product Group. Astro-Med's other product groups, Grass-Telefactor and Astro-Med Test and Measurement, manufacture electronic medical instrumentation and data acquisition and graphic recording systems for use in medical, industrial, and aerospace applications.

Visit Astro-Med, Inc. at www.astro-med.com and QuickLabel Systems directly at www.QuickLabelSystems.com for further information.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements, and actual results may vary from those expressed or implied herein. Factors that could affect these results include those mentioned in Astro-Med's FY2004 annual report and its annual and quarterly filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.