NORTHFIELD, MN (February, 2000) — Sheldahl, Inc., (Nasdaq: SHEL) now offers laser inspection capabilities and wide-web dimensions for Accentia, its line of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) films for use in touchscreen panels, electroluminescent lighting, flat panel circuits and plastic liquid crystal displays. The new features leverage the firm’s leadership in roll-to-roll vacuum sputtering technology to offer the market’s widest range of options in ITO-coated products.

Sheldahl is the only ITO film supplier to offer laser inspection capabilities. The company can monitor light transmission and resistance during the manufacturing process, map defects in both the film and the coating, and supply the customer with a contour map that indicates areas of the roll that should not be used. This maximizes the customer’s ability to control the quality of finished products that employ ITO film.

Sheldahl is also now equipped with a wide ITO coater that will help meet the market demand for wider film. This new machine will broaden customers’ sizing options as well as adding production capacity for the Accentia line.

"These new capabilities increase the number of value-added features we offer our customers, thanks to our unique ability to converge the numerous technologies utilized in the various areas of our business," said Greg Closser, Vice President of Sheldahl’s Technical Materials Group. "We offer laminating, barrier coating, roll-to-roll imaging and blanking, silver ink screening and other options that are not generally available from other suppliers, delivering a product with the versatility to adapt to a wide variety of different applications."

Accentia ITO coatings are sputtered transparent conductive thin oxide coatings on polymer films. The line currently includes films ranging from 60 to 500 ohms per square, with a 10-ohm-per-square film under development to meet anticipated demand in the LCD market.

Accentia includes moisture barrier, sheeting, slitting, PSA and release liners. All standard base films are available with additional optically clear or anti-glare hardcoat coatings. Both types afford extra surface protection (3H pencil hardness), excellent clarity and chemical resistance. The anti-glare hardcoat provides further definition (resolution) for enhanced readability and non-distortion of view.

About Sheldahl, Inc.

Sheldahl, Inc. is a leading producer of high-density substrates, high-quality flexible printed circuitry, and flexible laminates primarily for sale to the automotive electronics and data communications markets. The company, which is headquartered in Northfield, Minnesota, has operations in Northfield; Longmont, Colorado; Detroit, Michigan; South Dakota; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico. Its sales offices are located in Hong Kong, China; Singapore; U.K.; France; and Germany. Sheldahl’s common stock trades on the Nasdaq National Market tier of the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol: SHEL.

For more information, contact Melissa Stoltz, S&S Public Relations at 847/955-0700 ext. 250 (stoltz@sspr.com), or Cliff Morris, Sheldahl, Inc. at 507/663-8723 (cliff.morris@sheldahl.com).

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