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Sep 2, 2008

BWIR Shares Vision, Distinctive Business Model at Office Opening Ceremony

Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Vasant Bennett, President and Managing Partner of Barry-Wehmiller International Resources (BWIR), has announced plans to share a special presentation highlighting the leadership vision of the St. Louis, Missouri, USA based information technology and engineering consulting firm at a press briefing held today in conjunction with the grand opening of a new, larger facility for its primary business operations in Chennai, India.

BWIR was a pioneer in offshore outsourcing on multiple fronts since the firm started operations in Chennai in 1994. First, BWIR was created as a captive organization for a mid-market, US-based, $ 200 million manufacturing company. And second, starting as early as 1995, BWIR worked on machine design projects that were considered core to a machinery building company and difficult to outsource for technical, logistical and political reasons.

Through a clear vision and pioneering spirit, BWIR has evolved a distinctive business model in multiple areas, three of which are as follows:

First, BWIR is distinctive in successfully evolving from a captive to a hybrid model. This was no easy task considering it involved a fundamental cultural shift and a change in mindset across the organization. The advantages of this evolution include broad service offerings specifically targeted to the mid-market manufacturing segment and BWIR's ability to be selective in what is offered, based on the success within Barry-Wehmiller.

Second, BWIR is distinctive in its singular focus on the manufacturing segment – specifically discrete manufacturing. This depth allows BWIR to provide holistic business solutions rather than technical or skills-based services. Also, BWIR has provided what is now called Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) services since 1994 by providing services that were previously considered core to their business by our customers.

And third, BWIR can leverage the brand equity and reputation of Barry-Wehmiller and its 123-year legacy. This legacy is further strengthened by Barry-Wehmiller's unprecedented performance (20 percent CAGR over 20 years), strong leadership model ("we measure success by the way we touch the lives of people") and its global footprint (50 locations spanning the Americas, Asia and Europe).

"Barry-Wehmiller is working to build a strong American company serving a variety of global markets," stated Robert H. Chapman, Chairman and CEO of Barry-Wehmiller Companies, Inc., the parent company of BWIR. "Fundamentally important to this goal is our ability to provide our customers with expanded access to expert technical resources. Employing the offshore model as a component of our strategy allows for business process improvements and quick turnaround of cost-efficient products and services, which enables us to be more responsive to customer needs."

About Barry-Wehmiller International Resources

Barry-Wehmiller International Resources (BWIR) is a global solutions partner specializing in the creation, development and integration of the industry's most advanced IT and engineering solutions. With operations in St. Louis, Mo.; Detroit, Mich.; Chennai, India; and Mumbai, India, BWIR offers a winning combination of world-class, cost-effective services. The company's expertise in the implementation and customization of ERP, CRM, and HRMS systems as well as business intelligence, e-commerce, and enterprise application integration solutions makes BWIR an ideal partner for clients' technology needs. With more than a decade of experience, BWIR also specializes in a wide range of engineering services, including industrial machine design and product development, high-tech and medical equipment, CAD services, legacy conversion, electrical controls, product data management, and manufacturing consulting.

ABOUT BARRY-WEHMILLER

Barry-Wehmiller Companies, Inc. is a diversified global supplier of packaging, corrugating, and paper converting technology, as well as engineering consulting services, across a broad spectrum of industries. Barry-Wehmiller's balanced approach to the market is made possible through 10 interactive divisions: Accraply, a leading manufacturer of automatic labeling and label converting and finishing systems; Barry-Wehmiller Company, manufacturing bottle washers and pasteurizers for more than 120 years; Barry-Wehmiller International Resources (BWIR), a pioneer in the creation, development, and integration of advanced information technology and engineering solutions; Design Group, a premier supplier of manufacturing automation, facility design, and other engineering consulting services; FleetwoodGoldcoWyard, a leading producer and supplier of advanced conveyance technology and product handling equipment; HayssenSandiacre, a form/fill/seal technologies and services leader for more than 100 years; MarquipWardUnited, a leading manufacturer of equipment for the corrugated and folded carton industries; Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC), providing advanced converting, printing, and packaging technologies for the tissue, nonwovens, and flexible packaging industries since 1919; PneumaticScaleAngelus, a global provider for filling, capping, can seaming, labeling, and centrifugation; and Thiele Technologies, a leading producer of placing, bagging, cartoning, case packing, and palletizing equipment.

In fiscal year 2008, a combination of organic and acquisition growth is expected to grow Barry-Wehmiller's annual revenues to more than $1 billion for the first time in the company's 123-year history, with more than $300 million in markets outside the U.S.