PARAGON TECHNOLOGIES’ ERMANCO BRAND AWARDED A CONTRACT FOR APPROXIMATELY $1.25 MILLION TO PROVIDE A MATERIAL HANDLING SYSTEM FOR A THIRD PARTY LOGISTICS COMPANY

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EASTON, PA — February 17, 2004 -- Paragon Technologies, Inc. (AMEX:PTG), a leading supplier of “smart” material handling solutions, including systems, technologies, products and services, announced today that its Ermanco brand was awarded a contract for approximately $1.25 million to provide a material handling system for a third party logistics company specializing in the distribution of home electronics.  Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Len Yurkovic, President and CEO of Paragon Technologies, states, “This is a rapidly growing market.  Our customer realizes the value of working with Ermanco to develop a system that is customized to meet their requirements and utilizes many of Ermanco’s patented technologies.  We value their business and look forward to working with them on future opportunities.”

 

About Paragon Technologies

Paragon Technologies is a leader in integrating material handling systems and creating automated solutions for material flow applications.  Ermanco’s branded conveyor technologies and material handling solutions address the needs of the distribution, assembly, and manufacturing marketplace.  SI Systems’ branded technologies and material handling solutions address unit assembly handling and order fulfillment applications.  One of the top material handling systems suppliers worldwide, Paragon’s leading clients have included the United States Postal Service, General Motors, IBM, BMG, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, Peterbilt, Harley-Davidson, Walgreens, and Clark Equipment.

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Cautionary Statement. Certain statements contained herein are not based on historical fact and are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Securities and Exchange Commission rules, regulations and releases. Paragon intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created hereby. Among other things, the forward-looking statements regard Paragon's earnings, liquidity, financial condition, and certain operational matters. Words or phrases denoting the anticipated results of future events, such as "anticipate," "does not anticipate," "should help to," "believe," "estimate," "is positioned," "expects," "may," "will," "is expected," "should," "continue," and similar expressions that denote uncertainty, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Paragon's actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, such "forward-looking statements:" (1) as a result of risks and uncertainties associated with Paragon's restructuring, including the failure to achieve anticipated operating savings, and the possibility that the restructuring charges will be greater than anticipated; (2) as a result of factors over which Paragon has no control, including the strength of domestic and foreign economies, sales growth, competition, and certain cost increases; or (3) if the factors on which Paragon's conclusions are based do not conform to its expectations.

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