IMMEDIATE RELEASE             September 3, 2004

Duluth, Minn., U.S.A.—Duluth Seaway Port Authority waterfront tenant Altec HiLine, LLC., will be transporting 16 brand new Digger-Derrick aerial platform trucks to the hurricane ravaged Southeast beginning tomorrow (September 4).

The trucks will be used to restore utilities and communications in the Southeast damaged by Hurricanes Charlie, Gaston and now Frances.

Altec HiLine, located at the Clure Public Marine Terminal since 2002, manufactures sells and services vehicle-mounted aerial platforms for electric utilities, construction companies, and various government agencies. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of ALTEC, INC., a privately held Alabama corporation with annual sales of approximately $800 million.

The components for these Digger-Derricks were built by Altec Industries, St. Joseph, Missouri, and shipped to Duluth for assembly and installation on chassis.

“This is the first time Altec operations in Missouri have looked to Duluth for completion, distribution and shipment of the equipment built in Missouri,” said Gerald DeMeo, marketing director for Altec’s Duluth facility.

“It highlights their confidence in the quality of our production team, and we will continue to work with them on upcoming projects. We’re also glad to be able to assist in some way the victims of these recent hurricanes,” he said.

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