SOUTH WINDSOR, CT – In keeping with its corporate strategy of new product development and alternative market growth, Gerber Scientific Inc. (NYSE: GRB) announced the successful launch of its revolutionary Gerber Sector Blanket Production System at Print '01, McCormick Place, Chicago, September 6 – 13, 2001.

Designed to bring an unprecedented combination of performance, price and convenience to commercial and package printers worldwide, the Sector Blanket Production System automates the tedious process of cutting the flexible blanket materials used to apply clear coatings over printed graphics. Its highly innovative technology adds speed, efficiency, precision and cost savings to the printing process, which results in improved productivity and quality.

According to Michael J. Cheshire, chairman and chief executive officer, Gerber Scientific Inc., the Sector represents the second breakthrough product from the company's Gerber Innovations group, established two years ago to drive Gerber's growth within the packaging industry. Gerber entered the corrugated and folding carton segments of the packaging industry in late 1999 with the revolutionary Gerber Profile^TM Die Tool Production System, now installed in ten countries and viewed by experts as the preferred method for quality die tool manufacturing.

"The Sector fills an important technology gap in commercial printing and package printing operations by eliminating hand cutting and adding unprecedented flexibility to the blanket cutting process," Cheshire stated. "It relies on a unique marriage of computerized sprocket material movement and knife intelligence to produce high quality press-ready blankets. In addition, its standardized sheet size approach greatly reduces the need for extensive blanket inventories by allowing users to cut the exact size blanket required for each coating cylinder. Consequently, the Sector is unlike anything the printing or packaging community has seen to date.

"Until the advent of the Sector, commercial printers and package converters were limited to three options for generating coating blankets: manual cutting on-press; large computer-aided-design (CAD) tables normally used to cut packaging samples; and complex photopolymer processing," he explained. "Each method has drawbacks, among them press interruption and downtime, lack of precision, high cost, and inconvenience."

In devising the Gerber Sector, Gerber Innovations engineers determined the strengths and weaknesses of existing blanket cutting technologies and evaluated the needs of the printing process. The result is a complete digital solution that is highly sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, and generates accurate coating blankets far more efficiently and cost-effectively than existing methods.

Cheshire added, "The Sector de-skills the entire blanket cutting process, significantly reducing blanket production time while greatly improving press productivity. Based on its exceptionally warm reception at Print '01 [Print '01 showcased thousands of products. The Sector was one of only 20 singled out for the coveted distinction of 'Must See 'Em'.], we expect this exciting new tool to significantly grow our presence in the packaging industry, and establish our name as a technology leader in commercial printing, as well."

Gerber Scientific Inc. provides high technology systems and solutions that enable mass customization in diverse industries. Headquartered in South Windsor, Conn., Gerber Scientific is the world leader in three core markets – sign making and specialty graphics, apparel and flexible materials, and optical lens processing – which it serves through four wholly owned subsidiaries: Gerber Scientific Products, South Windsor, Conn.; Spandex PLC, Bristol, England; Gerber Technology, Tolland, Conn.; and Gerber Coburn Optical Inc., South Windsor, Conn. In addition, the company recently entered the packaging industry through its newly formed Gerber Innovations division, Manchester, Conn., and is currently bringing a new concept in point-of-sales merchandising to U.S. retailers via SignStorey Inc., Tolland, Conn. Gerber Scientific employs about 2,600 globally.