For Immediate Release

Contact:  Tracey Byer

(860) 648-6762

Gerber Coburn to Form Fully Dedicated Sales Force

Change Driven by Focus on Customer Relationships, Increasingly Technical Product Mix
and Expanding Presence in Wholesale Lab Market

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT -- Gerber Coburn, a leading manufacturer of computer integrated lens-processing systems for the ophthalmic industry, today announced plans to expand its own fully dedicated sales force in order to cover directly the wholesale lab market. Gerber Coburn equipment was previously sold through a third-party sales network.

“Gerber Coburn is constantly adjusting its business strategy as the market for lens-manufacturing equipment continues to evolve,” said John R. Hancock, president of Gerber Coburn. “As our product mix becomes increasingly technical, direct communication with our customers—Gerber Coburn’s most valuable asset—is vital.”

The change is expected to be phased in between now and end of December 2004.

Gerber Coburn is a unit of Gerber Scientific, Inc., the world's leading supplier of sophisticated automated manufacturing systems and software for sign making and specialty graphics, apparel and flexible materials, and ophthalmic lens processing.

Marc T. Giles, president and chief executive officer of Gerber Scientific, said, “With Gerber Scientific’s three-year turnaround plan coming to a successful conclusion in 2005, we are increasingly focusing on growth. The changes we are making at Gerber Coburn are a direct result of our corporate strategic planning process, which is aimed at accelerating revenue growth company-wide.”

Hancock noted that Gerber Coburn is reengineering its entire customer-relationship process. The creation of the new Gerber Coburn sales force was an essential result of this initiative.

“Serving customers effectively requires active and continuous communication,” said Hancock. “Along with our dedicated sales team, Gerber Coburn people in service, engineering and new-product development are routinely communicating with our customers to ensure that we’re doing the right things to meet both their immediate and long-term needs. Between sales and service, Gerber Coburn will now be fielding nearly 100 people who will be directly calling on the wholesale lab market.”

Gerber Coburn, a leader in the power retail segment, this year disclosed plans to substantially expand its presence in the wholesale lab market by revamping its product line and service capabilities. Two new Gerber Coburn products aimed specifically at the wholesale market are to be unveiled at the Optical Laboratories Show in Nashville next month.

“We believe Gerber Coburn can deliver tremendous value and service to customers in the global wholesale market,” said Hancock. “Having our own sales force is key to the success of this important effort.”

In announcing the change, Hancock praised the sales team that successfully represented Gerber Coburn for 18 years. “Some of our sales reps have been associated with Gerber Coburn since the beginning and played an important role in helping to build the significant position that we now enjoy in the marketplace. So while this decision was essential, it also was a difficult and bittersweet step for us as a company.”

About Gerber Scientific, Inc.
Gerber Scientific, Inc. is the world's leading supplier of sophisticated automated manufacturing systems for sign making and specialty graphics, apparel and flexible materials, and ophthalmic lens processing. Headquartered in South Windsor, Connecticut, the company operates through four businesses: Gerber Scientific Products and Spandex Ltd., Gerber Technology, and Gerber Coburn.

Safe Harbor Statement:
In addition to the historical information contained herein, there are matters discussed that are considered to be "forward-looking statements." The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors affecting the Company's operations, markets, products, and services, that could significantly affect results in the future. For a discussion of other risk factors relating to the Company's business, see the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2004 and its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2004, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are made as of the date of this release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this release.