Helac Corporation Announces New Vice President of Operations

Seattle, WA – October 16, 2002

Helac Corporation, a global manufacturer of hydraulic rotary actuators and construction equipment attachments since 1974, announced the appointment of Ron E. Beigh to the position of Vice President of Operations. Beigh will oversee production, purchasing, inventory control, manufacturing engineering, and continuous improvement of internal manufacturing processes. He brings 20 years of operations experience to Helac with an excellent record of improving processes and productivity by reducing waste, streamlining supervisory activities, and increasing production output.

"Given the significant growth of our business over the last 25 years and our standing vision of providing our customers with "best value" solutions through product quality, on-time delivery, and cost effectiveness, Ron will be instrumental in helping us continue to set industry standards through process efficiency and technology advancements," said Dean Weyer, president and CEO, Helac Corporation.

Beigh plans to leverage the many world class manufacturing processes Helac already has in place, including Kanban product replenishment, Just-in-time (JIT) delivery, and setup time reduction. He expects to tie together Helac’s current processes and devote resources to continuous process improvement to further enhance Helac’s quality, delivery and customer service position.

"Helac Corporation attracted me on several fronts. The company’s extensive product line of over 50 U.S. and International patents, endless market potential, and expansive technology infrastructure make an attractive foundation for continued success," stated Beigh, vice president of operations, Helac Corporation. "I look forward to leveraging Helac’s current manufacturing improvements and processes to develop an organization that will provide fluid power solutions to match our customers’ needs, when they need them."

"My ultimate goal for Helac is to be the best supplier that our customers have. I plan to meet with our customer and prospect base on an ongoing basis to assess their needs and develop programs to support them and improve their bottom line."

Prior to joining Helac Corporation, Beigh worked throughout the manufacturing industry as Division Operations Manager at QPM Aerospace, Vice President of Manufacturing at Silver Eagle Manufacturing Company, Operations Manager at Keystone Lighting as well as Plant Manager for American Sign and Indicator Corporation. Beigh earned a Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in Operations Management and Marketing from Eastern Washington University. He continued his education at Stanford University in Advanced Management, and at Leadership Skills Institute in Group Development.

A leader in the fluid power industry for over 25 years, Helac Corporation manufacturers a comprehensive line of hydraulic rotary actuators used as component parts for OEMs and after-market attachments for the construction equipment industry. Helac rotary actuators are best known for their tremendous torque output, compact dimensions, exceptional load bearing capability and rugged, reliable performance. Helac PowerTilt and PowerGrip, two specialty products, increase the utilization of backhoes and excavators. Over 1,000 worldwide customers in diverse markets depend on Helac’s product line to provide product quality, reliability, ease of use and durability.