WESTFORD, MA -- Feb. 20, 2001 -- GenRad, Inc. [NYSE: GEN] a global leader in electronics manufacturing productivity solutions, today announced the Summit 750 entry-level rework system, designed to improve productivity and reduce production line failures for contract and original equipment manufacturers of electronic circuit boards.

Faced with tight margins and increasingly more complex circuit board designs, electronic manufacturers are moving to Ball Grid Array technology and placing greater emphasis on reducing "negative yield" due to production line failures. The Summit 750 allows circuit board manufacturers to "rework" circuit boards so they meet exacting product performance specifications, reduce failure-related losses, thus increasing production line productivity.

The Summit 750's worldwide market embraces electronic manufacturers from such divergent product areas as implantable cardiac pacemakers to handheld communications devices to broadband switches and Internet routers.

As a low-cost, fully integrated "rework station," the Summit 750 is ideally suited for electronic manufacturers adopting Ball Grid Array technology in a surface mount enviroment, a market expected to grow at about 35 percent per year.

The Summit 750 enables manufacturers to transition from traditional leaded devices to Ball Grid Array technology where there is a need for high-yield, automated rework systems.

Built on GenRad's sophisticated, high-performance Summit 1100 platform, the Summit 750 offers contract manufacturers and OEMs a cost-effective solution with the same robust industrial design and renowned ease-of-use of the Summit series.

The Summit 750's industrial design ensures reliable and repeatable performance that meets the rigorous demands of high-speed and high volume manufacturing environments. The Summit 750 is part of GenRad's family of rework systems developed by Sierra Research & Technology (SRT), which was acquired in 2000. The new system will be demonstrated at the NEPCON Production & Support exhibition at the EtroniX Tradeshow in Anaheim, California, from February 27 through March 1, 2001.

Distinguishing features of the Summit 750 include:

• A Rugged Board Support Table, which has the flexibility and design integrity to support both large and small assemblies and can be easily configured for bottom side components.
• The Summit Top Heater, offering 1600 Watts of hot gas heating for high throughput and consistent thermal processing.
• The Summit Pick and Place Mechanism, which applies the same precision Pick and Place motions used in the advanced Summit systems to provide consistent placement capability, programmable placement force control, zero force removal (simplifies site dressing), and using an independent pick up tube.
• SierraMateÈ for Windowsþ with its intuitive "1-2-3 GO" user interface requiring minimum operator programming ability and skill. Password protected Engineering Screens provide great operational flexibility and process capabilities found only on Summit rework systems.

"While most of the low-cost systems on the market today require highly skilled operators and are not designed for high volumes, the Summit 750 is easy to use and is built for high-volume manufacturing environments", said Ron Lindell, Vice President of GenRad's Process Solutions group. "GenRad's Summit series gives contract manufacturers and OEMs a reliable, efficient and cost-effective system for reworking BGAs and other complex component technologies."

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.