HON INDUSTRIES Receives GSA Award For Outstanding Environmental Performance.

Business Editors

MUSCATINE, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 8, 2003

HON INDUSTRIES Inc. (NYSE:HNI) received the 2003 Evergreen Furniture Award by the U.S. General Services Administration National Furniture Center. The award is based on the performance of two of HON INDUSTRIES' operating companies, Allsteel Inc. and The HON Company.

The GSA Evergreen Award is presented annually to furniture suppliers who protect the environment in the areas of recycling, waste prevention, model facility, affirmative procurement and environmental preferability.

"We are honored to receive an award that recognizes environmental excellence and responsibility," said Stan Askren, President of HON INDUSTRIES. "We are committed to conducting our business in a way that sustains the well being of our environment. The operating companies of HON INDUSTRIES are dedicated to eliminating waste in every aspect of their business. We recognize that not only is the efficient use of materials necessary for economic sustainability, the effective use of resources is crucial for environmental sustainability. Our members understand they can make a difference and this award celebrates their success."

HON INDUSTRIES Inc. provides products and solutions for the home and workplace environments and is the second largest office furniture manufacturer in the United States. HON INDUSTRIES is also the nation's leading manufacturer and marketer of gas- and wood-burning fireplaces. The Company's strong brands, including HON(R), Allsteel(R), Gunlocke(R), Heatilator(R) and Heat-N-Glo(R), have leading positions in their markets. HON INDUSTRIES is committed to maintaining its long-standing corporate values of integrity, financial soundness and a culture of service and responsiveness. By doing so, the Company was recognized for the third consecutive year as one of the 400 Best Big Companies in America by Forbes magazine in 2003, and as America's Most Admired Company in the furniture industry by Fortune magazine in 2003. HON INDUSTRIES' common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HNI. More information can be found on the Company's website at www.honi.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are not strictly historical, including statements as to plans, objectives, and future financial performance, are "forward-looking" statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, which may cause the Company's actual results in the future to differ materially from expected results, particularly those with respect to expected earnings for the remainder of the fiscal year. These risks include, among others: the Company's ability (a) to realize financial benefits from its cost containment, facilities closing, production consolidation, and business simplification initiatives, (b) to realize financial benefits from investments in new products, and (c) to mitigate the effects of uncertain steel prices and supplies; lower than expected demand for the Company's products due to uncertain political and economic conditions; competitive pricing pressure from foreign and domestic competitors; and other factors described in the Company's annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 10-K and 10-Q.