News Release - New Appointments in GEA Filtration

For immediate release - May 3rd, 2002

Bruce Blanchard has joined GEA Filtration Division of Niro Inc. as the Sales Manager. Bruce brings valuable membrane filtration and management experience from his twelve years at APV.

Bruce Blanchard

Bob Keefe will concentrate GEA Filtration's focused growth efforts in Neutraceutical, Pharmaceutical and Biotech market sectors. We expect membrane filtration to show higher than average growth in these sectors.

Michael Roberts has also joined the division as a Process Engineer. He brings over five years of operational experience at Cargill.

Michael Roberts

GEA Filtration Division of Niro Inc. is a global supplier of industrial and pilot Membrane Filtration solutions to Dairy, Food, Neutraceutical, Pharmaceutical and Biotech market sectors. We offer a wide variety of membrane configurations including spiral wound and tubular organic membranes, ceramic and stainless steel membranes. GEA Filtration has a fleet of pilot plants for on site testing at customer's facility.