Boldt Metronics International celebrates 25 years of continued growth.

PALATINE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 30, 1997--

BMI Makes Historic Leaps in Metal Electronics Industry --

Developing First Circuit Board-Level EMI Shield

Packaged for Automated Installation

Boldt Metronics International (BMI), the leading provider of metal electronic solutions for circuit board-level applications, today celebrates 25 years in business.

Founded by Melvin W. Boldt as a manufacturer of custom metal parts, BMI has achieved significant growth as the first company to package surface mountable EMI (electromagnetic interference) shields for circuit board-level installation.

EMI shields are used in electronic devices, such as cellular phones and modems, to reduce electromagnetic emissions that can interfere with the compatibility of the device's own components or cause other electronic products to malfunction. Working with a major telecommunications company in the early 1990s, BMI identified a ground-breaking opportunity to leverage its metal component expertise to design, manufacture and package circuit board-level EMI shields for easy, low-cost installation.

Today, BMI's MOD-SHIELD(TM), a modular surface mount EMI shielding system, is recognized as a major advancement in the area of electromagnetic shielding. The MOD-SHIELD, which was selected for inclusion in the Argonne National Laboratories time capsule for the most important engineering products of the past 50 years, is used in more than 40 percent of the cellular phones produced worldwide.

BMI clients include Motorola, Nokia, Ericsson and Northern Telecom, among many other communications leaders. BMI also targets other industries, including automotive electronic controls, telecommunications equipment, computers, modems, peripherals and medical electronics.

"Heading into its 26th year, BMI is the clear leader in metal electronic components packaged for circuit board-level applications. We have grown tremendously over the past several years thanks to the dedication and team work of all of our people. Our continued growth also will be fueled by increases in both the number of products requiring EMI shielding and the pace at which these products are manufactured. Our challenge is to be the undisputed champion of the world in this field by the year 2000," said Melvin W. Boldt, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of BMI.

"From the day BMI began, our goal was to be a world-class manufacturer, which is people-centered, quality-driven and customer-directed. Our flagship product, the MOD-SHIELD, represents BMI's on-going commitment to its customers to develop the most effective, easy-to-use, low-cost solutions on the market," Boldt added.

BMI's MOD-SHIELD addresses manufacturers' demands for EMI shields that can be mounted directly onto the circuit board, like other components such as computer chips, through a sophisticated process called surface mount technology (SMT). To allow for SMT, BMI's shields are uniquely packaged and distributed in tape and reel formats. This packaging enables manufacturers to use existing SMT vacuum pick & place machinery to install the shields. Further, the design of the shield allows the shielded component to be soldered to the board at the same time as the shield.

With BMI's shields, manufacturers can develop more complex product designs, such as miniaturized devices, because electronic components can be placed very closely to each other on the circuit board without electromagnetic interference. Further, the metal MOD-SHIELD can be recycled, unlike the environmentally questionable painted plastic housings it replaces.

As BMI shields meet all EMI shielding requirements around the globe, customers can be assured their electronic products will be protected when they go to market internationally. In the United States, the FCC is empowered to establish administrative requirements for ensuring the electromagnetic compatibility of electrical and electronic devices. Similar organizations in Canada, Europe, Germany and Japan have their own set of specific regulations as well.

Future U.S. guidelines will include restrictions on radiation and a new set of standards for acceptable EMI/RFI susceptibility. These new regulations are expected to create more revenue-generating opportunities for BMI, which already develops shields for these purposes.

Pioneers in the evolving surface mount EMI shielding industry, BMI is the only company that consults customer engineers at all product development stages from initial design assistance and prototyping through pre-production and production runs.

"Because we are very involved in the design process of the shields, we can customize them from the start in any size, shape or dimension to meet client needs. The possibilities are endless," said Jack Black, director of sales and marketing, BMI.

"Although the design of the shield is crucial, BMI's tape and reel packaging is where the company provides true added value to its customers, allowing manufacturers to take full advantage of surface mount technology applications," he said.

Boldt Metronics International, BMI, is the leading provider of electronic solutions for circuit board-level applications. Headquartered in Palatine, BMI electronic components are custom designed to ensure EMI shielding, gounding and electrical continuity. Founded in 1972 by Melvin W. Boldt, BMI has grown revenues from $3 million to $18 million in five years. The company services a global marketplace, including customers in the United States, Canada, Europe, South America and the Far and Middle East.

For more information on BMI, please contact Brenda Rechner at 847/934-4700.

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CONTACT: Elizabeth Scanlon Bils, 773/549-6150

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