Telair International to Fortify ATR Cockpit Doors; ATR Aircraft Will be First to Use Telair's ``Ballistics-Resistant'' Composite Material

Business Wire, July 24, 2002

Business Editors

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FARNBOROUGH, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2002

Telair International, a subsidiary of Teleflex Incorporated (NYSE:TFX), announced today that it has been selected by Simair to provide a newly developed and patented composite material to the French/Italian aerospace company Avions de Transport Regional (ATR) for the hardening of cockpit doors on ATR regional aircraft currently in service. ATR, an Alenia Aeronautica and EADS joint venture, will use Telair's lightweight, ballistics-resistant composite to reinforce ATR cockpit doors in order to comply with new security guidelines and in response to terrorist actions globally.

"The initial order calls for the production of 105 door sets. These will be used for a variety of ATR 42 and 72 aircraft operators around the globe. We anticipate that the next carriers to benefit from this security technology will be announced very soon," said Telair President, Axel Hauner.

The lightweight Telair composite material weighs significantly less when compared to other hardening alternatives and is resistant to bullets, blunt force impacts and fire. DuPont Advanced Fibers division contributed to its development. Telair's parent company, Teleflex Incorporated, holds a patent pending on the composite manufacturing process, initially derived from another important security related technology developed by Telair engineers. Simair, the engineering provider contracted by ATR for the cockpit door reinforcement program, conducted independent testing of the Telair panel.

Telair International, a full service supplier of complete on-board air cargo systems, also manufactures a unique Hardened Unit Load Device (HULD) or container for wide-body aircraft passenger baggage. The Telair HULD is the only container to pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) "blast resistance" test (August 14, 2001) and also be issued full airworthiness certification (TSO-C90, January 16, 2002).

Within days following the World Trade Center disaster on September 11, 2001, Telair engineers reformulated the same composite materials used for the blast-resistant baggage container. The result is a unique material perfectly suited for hardening cockpit doors and other areas of aircraft cabins which now demand added security.

The Telair composite material meets the National Institute of Justice Level III-A Threat Test criteria, regarded by the FAA and the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) as a threshold standard. This test calls for the firing of either a 9 mm or .45-caliber Magnum bullet into a panel of the material from close range. Telair's composite panel repeatedly absorbed the test bullets, permitting no ricochet and no loss of panel integrity.

Telair began composite panel production in December 2001, with initial samples provided to aircraft manufacturers, aerospace engineering companies as well as marine manufacturers. ATR's decision to re-design cockpit doors using the Telair material is the first major order for this innovative security product. Several other customers are close to completing independent verification of Telair's test claims and applications surveys. Telair will produce the material in sheets or cut to order as demanded by bulkhead, door or other cabin patterns. Full-scale production is now underway at Telair's Long Beach, Calif., facility.

"We estimate there are 250 or more ATR commuter planes in Europe alone, and many more scattered around the globe. We anticipate additional reinforced cockpit door orders for ATR aircraft in the coming months," Hauner added.

Telair is a subsidiary of Teleflex Incorporated (NYSE:TFX), a $2 billion diversified industrial company well known for providing innovative solutions to customers in the aerospace industry. In addition to its significant expertise in specialty composites, Teleflex also manufactures complex turbine engine components; repairs airfoils; and provides turbine engine services to the power generation market.

Teleflex also delivers products and services to the automotive, marine, medical and industrial markets worldwide. Further information about Teleflex Incorporated and its various businesses can be obtained at www.teleflex.com.

Telair International, www.telair.com, is a single source for the design, manufacture and support of complete on-board baggage and cargo handling systems, for wide- and narrow-body aircraft. The company is committed to providing Complete Cargo Competence(TM) for original equipment manufacturers and more than 50 air carriers around the globe.

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