Moldex-Metric Recognized by Frost & Sullivan for Growth Strategy Leadership in Hearing Protection Products

Palo Alto, Calif. — March 24, 2006 — In its recent analysis of the United States Markets for Industrial Hearing Protection Products, Frost & Sullivan named Moldex-Metric, Inc. as the recipient of the 2005 Hearing Protection Products Growth Strategy Leadership of the Year Award.

The hearing protection products market within the United States is mature like most markets within the protective equipment (PPE) sector. To maintain and cement its position within this market, a company would need to identify niche end-user markets possessing sufficient growth potential.

The company has identified and focused on its core competencies and continued to strengthen its market position in these areas. This approach enables it to possess a distinct advantage over its giant-sized competitors.

"The company’s ability to offer a flexible array of product offerings and solutions within the hearing protection device (HPD) segment of the environment, health and safety (EH&S) industry has provided it with an excellent reputation not only among its competitors, but also end users" says Frost & Sullivan research analyst Pavithra Atul Sarma. "It has also cleverly leveraged its small size to concentrate on its sales and distribution strategies"

Moldex-Metric’s in-house sales force ’work the streets’ and allow it to keep its finger on the pulse of the market and help it obtain direct and immediate feedback from its customers. The face-to-face time that the company sets aside to interact with its distributors has contributed extensively toward boosting its sales over the last few years.

Moldex-Metric channels the sale of its products through a healthy mix of medium to large strong regional distributors, in addition to selling products through national houses. It has laid a lot of emphasis on developing its respiratory and hearing protection product lines and its brands are very well established in these arenas. The company typically looks at distributors that offer other PPE that complements its business and sale of its product lines.

"One of the company’s key strengths lies in its aggressive marketing and advertising strategies, which offer them an edge over even any of the other privately held companies" says Sarma. "The longevity of its management offers them a greater say in consensual decision-making, which is an issue often faced by publicly held companies"

Further, Moldex-Metric has always striven and, in the process, established a reputation of providing products that interweave style with comfort and quality. For instance, its sparkplug - a randomly multi-colored earplug and the first one of its kind in the market - is not only non-irritating, but also possess a smooth surface for added comfort.

The Moldex PlugStations are simple yet innovative mount-on-the-wall dispensers, wherein foam earplugs can be kept instead of being enclosed in traditional packages. Its superior product design, as is evident in product lines such as the Pura-Cones and Traffic-Cones, offers a unique cavity design for easy insertion. This design provides low-pressure offering additional comfort allowing the user to wear this over extended periods.

The company also places heavy emphasis on independent testing of its products, reiterating its belief in ensuring that its customers get unbiased third party (NRR) certification.

In recognition of the innovative strategies that has spurred the company’s immense growth, Frost & Sullivan presents Moldex-Metric with the 2005 Growth Strategy Leadership of the Year Award within the HPD segment of the EH&S industry.

About Moldex-Metric, Inc.

With more than 25 years of innovation in respiratory and hearing protection, Moldex is one of the most recognized and respected names in worker safety. Moldex products provide comfort and style for wearers and cost savings for employers. Moldex holds more than 50 patents for innovative and unique products.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company’s industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services, and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit www.frost.com.

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Stacie Jones

Frost & Sullivan

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