SAN DIEGO, CA -- January 23, 2001 -- GenRad, Inc. [NYSE: GEN], a leading producer of advanced performance-assurance products for electronics manufacturers, today announced that it has won a Service Excellence Award for Electronics Assembly Equipment Suppliers in a competition sponsored by Circuits Assembly Magazine and Technology Forecasters, Inc..

Winners were announced at the APEX tradeshow in San Diego. The Service Excellence Awards honor electronics assembly equipment companies that excel in overall customer service. Technology Forecasters, an independent group of industry researchers, conducted the customer interviews on which the results were based. Customers were asked to rate the company's Service and Support in five categories: Dependability, Ease of use, Responsiveness, Technology and Value for price. GenRad was rated best in the Test and Inspection category.

"This is a testament to the long tradition of service and support excellence offered by GenRad," said, Robert M. Dutkowsky, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of GenRad. "Our dedicated support staff pride themselves on seeing that each GenRad customer gets maximum efficiency and peak performance from their test systems. We are honored to receive this special acknowledgement from our customers and Circuits Assembly and Technology Forecasters."

About GenRad

GenRad Inc. [NYSE: GEN] is a global leader of electronics manufacturing productivity solutions for contract and original equipment manufacturers [OEM] of handheld and wireless devices, PCs and business servers, DSL and other broadband switching and routing technologies, and other devices integral to emerging Internet e-commerce markets. GenRad also applies its technologies to development of diagnostic solutions for the automotive and general transportation industry.

GenRad is comprised of four lines of business bringing to market integrated hardware, software and service solutions that empower always-on services and un-interruptable business applications:

• Process Solutions focuses on in-circuit test, x-ray test, and re-work solutions as well as plant and line management solutions for electronic product manufacturers.
• Functional Solutions focuses on functional test platforms for manufacturers of telecommunications, computers and automotive electronics.
• Diagnostic Solutions focuses on service bay and manufacturing solutions for transportation OEMs and independent service providers.
• Support and Services focuses on maintenance programs, on-site and remote support, programming services, and training to help customers optimize their hardware and software solutions.

Founded in 1915, GenRad employs approximately 1,400 people and maintains its worldwide headquarters in Westford, MA, USA. The company's Web address is http://www.genrad.com.