This MOU expands Washington Lab's sphere of agreements covering product approvals for domestic and international markets, including linkages to French, United Kingdom and Dutch Competent and Notified Bodies.

In addition to expanding Washington Lab's environmental services, the liaison promises to expand the resources for companies seeking testing to military, aerospace and TEMPEST requirements.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE					            

June 13, 1999

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE					            
November 11, 1998

For more information 
Contact: Steve Ferguson
301/417-0220

Gaithersburg, MD -- Washington Laboratories, Ltd. recently expanded their test capabilities to measure radio frequency millimeter wave frequencies up to 220 GHz. With the new equipment, radiated and conducted measurements can be made on equipment in-house and on-site at customer locations.

Applications of the new measurement capability include equipment certification service (to augment the present capability), site surveys, source characterization and localization.

Current FCC Rules require that systems operating above 10 GHz be tested to the 5th harmonic or 200 GHz, whichever is less. The expanded capability will allow testing of new point-to-point and point-to-multipoint systems for FCC certification, allowed under Part 101 of FCC Rules. In addition, the higher frequency capability will allow measurements of proximity sensor and similar systems operating above 10 GHz, as well as serve the expanded millimeter wave measurement market. With this capability, the full frequency range of FCC Equipment Authorizations can be tested.

Washington Labs specializes in EMC and safety testing and design consulting for the communications, information technology, medical and food processing industries to obtain compliance with safety, telecommunications and emissions requirements for the United States and European markets.

Following a recent trip to Paris, Mike Violette, President of Washington Laboratories, Ltd., announced a new working arrangement with a major French testing and certification body. Through the new alliance, Washington Labs will provide increased direct access to Europe for its clients through LCIE (Central Laboratory for the Electric Industry) in France. LCIE, a French Notified and Competent Body, provides testing and certification services for the European Union Markets.

Services available through the Washington Labs/LCIE alliance will include compliance to the Machinery Directive, and generating Technical Construction Files (TCFs) for the EMC Directive and Technical Files for the Low Voltage Directive and Medical Device Directive. "We'll be able to improve our speed-of-service and broaden our support to U.S. manufacturers seeking approvals for the European Market. This is especially critical to our clients who need rapid access to Europe for their products -- which means, basically all our clients will benefit" commented Violette.

Details of the arrangement were worked out with European Certification Partners (ECP), who represents several European notified bodies in the U.S. including LCIE. Mr. Eric Thibau, President of ECP, arranged meetings here and abroad between Washington Labs and LCIE. ECP provides marketing, representation and liaison services in the U.S. "LCIE gains a U.S.-based testing resource of the highest quality in Washington Laboratories; and, Washington Labs gains an expert certification resource and improved access to Europe. In either case, the customer wins," said Thibau.

Washington Laboratories provides engineering services, compliance and electrical safety testing to worldwide manufacturers of electronic and electric equipment. They are an authority on EMI/EMC, safety and product compliance for companies involved in a variety of markets; state-of-the-art information technology, medical, RF/wireless and telecommunications. On-site testing and product or building consultation is also available.

With over 100 years of operation, LCIE is one of Europe's foremost testing, certification and metrology companies in the fields of electricity and electronics. Over 600 LCIE employees specialize in technical assistance, testing and measurement, certification, calibration and training.

Gaithersburg, MD Taking advantage of the newly announced FCC Electronic Filing options, Washington Laboratories, Ltd. now offers electronic filing of FCC applications. This service utilizes the Internet by filing applications on-line via the FCC's website which should show an improvement in the approval turnaround time.

Washington Labs is one of the first testing labs to offer this service to manufacturers of electronic and electric equipment who seek FCC approvals of compliance testing. The new filing procedure utilizes digital storage of the necessary documents, photographs and submission to the FCC via high speed Internet access.

"The FCC will review the electronically-filed applications more quickly than the traditionally-filed applications . The speed of service will improve the manufacturers' time-to-market. Our submissions packages have been altered to take advantage of this new service," said Ray Hammonds, Washington Labs Chief Engineer.

Prior to this new capability, applications have been sent to the FCC by mail with approvals being returned via mail. Review of paper documentation slowed the process which has taken up to eight weeks or longer.

Washington Laboratories provides engineering services, compliance and electrical safety testing to worldwide manufacturers of electronic and electric equipment. They are an authority on EMI/EMC, safety and product compliance for companies involved in a variety of markets: state-of-the-art information technology, medical, RE/wireless and telecommunications. On-site testing and product or building consultation is also available.