For Immediate Release

Contact:  Jay Zager

November 13, 2006

(860) 644-1551

   

Gerber Scientific's Apparel and Flexible Materials Business Segment Announces General Availability of Fashion Lifecycle Management™

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT -- Gerber Scientific, Inc.’s (NYSE: GRB) Apparel and Flexible Materials business segment, Gerber Technology, has announced the commercial launch of its Fashion Lifecycle Management (FLM) software suite. This product lifecycle management solution provides global, real-time visibility and control throughout the entire product development and lifecycle management process. Fashion Lifecycle Management combines the power of WebPDM, Gerber’s leading product data management solution, with a robust, scaleable enterprise-wide workflow engine and collaboration tools. WebPDM currently hosts over 15,000 seats.

Built with the unique requirements of fashion in mind, Gerber Fashion Lifecycle Management provides the collaborative framework for the fashion industry’s increasingly geographically dispersed operations and vendors. With it, users can identify and eliminate tasks that fail to add value, immediately see what part of the process needs attention, and streamline product lifecycles to reduce costs and increase speed to market.

“Fashion Lifecycle Management is the direct result of substantial input from our existing customer base and years of experience in providing the industry’s leading product data management software,” said John Hancock, President, Gerber Technology. “Customer and market feedback regarding our PLM strategy and product offering has been extremely positive. The evolutionary nature of FLM protects and extends our customers’ investment in WebPDM while giving them new tools to accelerate their product delivery, reduce costs and increase sales.”

Fashion Lifecycle Management integrates three essential layers: Design, Product Data Management and Information Collaboration. Each layer is comprised of plug-n-play software that provides modular functionality. Customers can start with any component and add capabilities as needs grow. Those already using WebPDM can carry forward their existing data and processes into FLM. This evolutionary architecture protects and extends software and training investments.

The Design layer contains the software used for conceptual development, pattern development, grading, marking, and three-dimensional prototyping. The Product Data Management layer, which consists of the latest evolution of Gerber’s WebPDM, captures and catalogs the design layer information for use by all other departments. The Information Collaboration layer, enabled by FLM, effectively controls and manages information throughout the global supply chain. It consists of robust workflow, sample tracking, partner licensing and integration tools that disseminate the necessary information to retailers, brand developers, suppliers and factories that need to interact with the data. These new elements are the critical pieces that extend WebPDM to the level of Fashion Lifecycle Management.

Marc T. Giles, President and CEO of Gerber Scientific, Inc. stated, “The Fashion Lifecycle Management product is a strong addition to our suite of software offerings. As we have stated, Gerber is committed to developing new and exciting products in all of our businesses”.

About Gerber Scientific, Inc.
Gerber Scientific, Inc. (www.gerberscientific.com) is a leading international 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.

Forward-looking Statements:
In addition to the historical information contained herein, there are matters discussed that are considered to be "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 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2006, 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.

 

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