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Pentair's Delta Tools Win Top Awards from Leading Trade Magazines

October 10, 2001

ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct 10, 2001 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- A number of woodworking tools from the Delta unit of Pentair, Inc. (NYSE: PNR) were awarded top ratings this summer from editors of leading trade publications, Frank J. Feraco, president and chief operating officer of Pentair's Tools Group, announced today.

"We have continued to spur product innovation across the entire Delta line of woodworking and bench tools while retaining our focus on product quality," Feraco said. "We are gratified by the high ratings given to Delta tools by the editors of many of the leading specialty books in our business, and we are convinced that professionals and do-it-yourselfers also recognize the many advantages offered by our products."

    Among the most recent Delta awards:
    -- The model 50-868 ambient air cleaner received the Editor's Choice award
       from Popular Mechanics during the National Hardware Show and will be
       featured in the December issue of the magazine, which will reach
       subscribers and the newsstands in October.
    -- The model 23-710 sharpening machine won the Best Buy award from
       American Woodworker's and will be featured in the magazine's October
       issue.
    -- The model 17-965 drill press was rated a top pick in a review featured
       in the October issue of Wood Magazine, which said, "We give Delta the
       edge due to its longer quill stroke, quill lock lever, table indexing
       pin, and lower price."
    -- The model 28-280 14-inch band saw received the Best Buy award in a tool
       test published in the August issue of American Woodworker's.
Earlier in the year, Woodworker's Journal had given Editor's Top Pick to the model 37-195 six-inch jointer; the model 22-560 12 1/2-inch planer received Best Value from Popular Woodworking; and the model 31-250 drum sander won a tool test against its principal market competitor in Wood Magazine.

"Several of the trade magazines have pointed out that Delta is really doing its homework, with the extra features engineered into our tools," said Pete Chatel, vice president and general manager of Delta. "Our most recent product launches serve as a testament to our competitiveness on all fronts: speed-to-market, quality, an end-user focus, and the sheer number of new products. In fact, we reduced product development cycle time by as much as 20 percent with our most recent product introductions. Delta is committed to leading the industry into a new era of woodworking, a fact demonstrated by the introduction of 17 new products and the recent doubling of the product development budget and staff."

Pentair, headquartered in St. Paul, produces a wide range of tools under several well-known brand names, including Porter-Cable, Delta, and Ex-Cell. In addition to tools, the company's core businesses include water technologies and enclosures. Pentair ( http://www.pentair.com ) employs 12,500 people in more than 50 locations around the world.

    For more information, contact Mark Cain of Pentair, Inc., +1-651-639-5278.