Fargo Electronics Receives Two U.S. Patents And Three Notices of Allowance.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 30, 2001

Fargo Electronics, Inc. (Nasdaq:FRGO) today announced that it has received three U.S. Patents: Patent No. 6,199,857 (`857) I.D. Card Output Stacker; and Patent No. 6,264,774 (`774) Card Laminator with Regulatory Control. Fargo is a leading developer, manufacturer, and supplier of desktop systems that personalize plastic identification cards for physical, information and transaction security.

In addition, Fargo received three "Notices of Allowance" from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for card printer claims covering a "Thermal Printhead Load Adjustment Mechanism;" a "Card Straightener;" and a "Printer Using Thermal Print Head." A Notice of Allowance from the Patent Office is the final step prior to issuance of a patent.

"The new `857 patent permits ID cards to be kept in the order they are printed, with the first card on the top of the stack and the last card on the bottom. This permits users to keep the cards in an easy to use sequence. The new `774 patent controls the application of heat to laminating film as part of Fargo's High Definition Printing(TM) process," said Jeffrey D. Upin, Fargo's General Counsel.

"These patents will add to our strong and growing intellectual property portfolio. It further protects Fargo's proprietary designs, and demonstrates our continued industry leadership in innovations which benefit the end user," Upin said. "It will protect Fargo's proprietary supplies in European countries. We are very pleased with the notice, which will offer our product lines and distribution partners additional competitive strength.

"Fargo has been granted 17 U.S. patents and has over 50 patent applications pending, related to specific card printer technology such as lamination, card flipping, ribbon technology, High Definition Printing, dual input hoppers and output stackers. Our ability to bring such ideas to the card personalization market gives end users greater flexibility and leads ultimately to Fargo's strength and growth in the marketplace," Upin said.

About Fargo

Fargo Electronics, Inc. (Nasdaq:FRGO) is the world's leader in innovative technologies for desktop plastic card personalization systems. Based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Fargo printing systems create personalized plastic identification cards complete with digital images and text, lamination, and electronically encoded information.

Personalized identification cards provide physical, information and transaction security for a wide variety of applications including retail stores, e-commerce, government installations, schools, sports and recreation facilities, clubs and associations, and correctional facilities. More than 50,000 Fargo systems are currently installed throughout the U.S. and in over 100 other countries. For more information, visit Fargo's Web site at http://www.fargo.com.