Initial Review of 2006: Pfaff-silberblau Posts Rising Sales Figures in Its “Lifting & Material Handling Technology” Unit

Friedberg, Germany, 14 December 2006 - In an initial year-end review for 2006, Pfaff-silberblau Hebezeugfabrik GmbH & Co. KG of Derching/ Friedberg, Germany, has posted extremely strong figures for its “Lifting & Material Handling Technology” business unit: The growth rate in this segment reached nearly 20 percent. Among others, the products from the workshop technology area made a disproportionately large contribution to this success. Pfaff-silberblau Hebezeugfabrik’s management sees the focused optimization of its product portfolio over the past two years as the primary factor driving this positive sales trend. Examples include the launch of the new PROLINE und SILVERLINE trolley jacks, an expansion of the line up of ratchet-lever hoists (to include, for instance, models for loads of “only” 300 kg), as well as further development of the workshop cranes and presses. “When it comes to wire-rope winches, we were able to gain solid positioning on the market by launching the BETA electric wire-rope winch, which is manufactured in Derching,” reported Martin Kutschka, chief executive officer (with particular responsibility for the areas of production and sales) at Pfaff-silberblau. “For certain products, we are recording sales increases of up to 40 percent.” The company also registered a jump in the number of incoming orders for material handling equipment. “In that segment, we are growing more rapidly than the market is,” said Martin Kutschka. “This is due not only to the upswing in the German economy, but also to the increasingly stringent customer requirements, which we meet with our products.” Demand is especially strong for above-average quality and reliability as well as ideal safety levels – criteria that the already established equipment from Pfaff-silberblau completely fulfills, as do the latest bestsellers, such as the recently launched MOTION 26 hand pallet truck. The Pfaff-silberblau Group is made up of three divisions: “Lifting & Material Handling Technology”, “Actuator Technology” and “Rail & Road Technology”. In 2005, the company achieved approximately 64 million euros in total sales, about one third of which came solely from the H&F division.

About Pfaff-silberblau Pfaff-silberblau Hebezeugfabrik & Co. – established over 135 years ago – currently has approximately 325 employees and a group turnover in excess of 64 million euros (2005 fiscal year). The company is a leader in the fields of lifting and material handling equipment as well as actuator technology/ worm-gear screw jacks and rail & road technology. Pfaff-silberblau is an experienced partner for solving any problem related to moving (turning, lifting, lowering, pushing, shunting) loads of up to 1,000 tons in any direction. The company has factories in Friedberg and Heilbronn (Germany), and is represented by subsidiaries in Switzerland as well as Austria, United Kingdom, the Benelux countries, Poland and Hungary. Beyond that, more than 40 affiliated representative offices are active for Pfaff-silberblau around the world.