EaglePicher developing increased capability to meet industry demands

September 12, 2006 — /PRNewswire/ — JOPLIN, Mo. — EaglePicher Technologies, LLC and the City of Joplin announced today the construction of a new 24,000 square foot facility located in the Crossroads Industrial Park in Joplin, Missouri. EaglePicher will use the new building for the development and production of Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) cells and batteries for U.S. Military critical applications.

“Li-Ion technology is known to provide higher energy levels and longer cycle life at a low weight and in smaller volumes than lead-acid, nickel- cadmium (Ni-Cd), or nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries,” said Steve Westfall, President and CEO of EaglePicher Technologies. “Currently there are few Li-Ion battery manufacturers in the U.S.”

Li-Ion technology has tremendous growth potential in military and transportation industries as well as the medical and portable device industry. The initial focus will be on Li-Ion military batteries for land, sea, air, space and special operations. “EaglePicher Technologies has a history of producing high quality, reliable and mission successful technology for the U.S. Government. In fact we also announced today one billion hours in space with our nickel-hydrogen batteries and cells with one hundred percent mission success. This new facility and new chemistry will help us continue this type of accomplishment and commitment,” said Westfall.

The new facility is being constructed by nationally recognized Crossland Construction Company, Inc. and will include dry and clean rooms fabricated by Scientific Climate Systems, Inc. for critical process steps with dedicated air handling systems for each process. It will also have a full diagnostic laboratory on-site, paperless tracking of all cell and battery build and performance data, PLC capability and bar coding for all process steps. EaglePicher Technologies is investing over $10 million in the new facility.

EaglePicher Technologies, the City of Joplin and the Joplin Business Industrial Development Corporation have been working together for several months on the design, safety and security features of the new building. Construction will be completed on or before December 29, 2006 and product production is expected to begin by the fourth quarter of 2007. EaglePicher expects up to 100 new high tech employees in the facility within 3 to 5 years.

“We are pleased about our venture with EaglePicher,” said Joplin Mayor Jon Tupper. “EaglePicher has been part of Joplin for over 160 years and its employees are part of the fabric of our community. This venture is a continuation of the very real partnership we enjoy together.”

Rob O’Brian, President of the Joplin Chamber of Commerce and the Joplin Business Industrial Development Corporation, said the new facility is a result of “tight cooperation between the city and EaglePicher and a real desire to keep Joplin and EaglePicher at the forefront of technological leadership.”

The new building will be built to maximize lean manufacturing and to minimize contamination risk. Internationally known independent laboratories will perform cell performance certification and environmental qualification. The new building will also feature state-of-the-art security features.

EaglePicher Technologies, LLC, an EaglePicher company, is the leading producer of batteries and energetic devices for the defense, space and commercial industries, and provides the most experience and broadest capability in battery electrochemistry of any battery supplier in the United States. EaglePicher Technologies offers a wide range of battery technology including thermal, nickel hydrogen, lithium carbonmonofluoride, lithium thionyl chloride, lithium manganese dioxide, lithium sulfur dioxide, lithium ion, reserve lithium oxyhalide, custom battery assemblies and silver zinc batteries. They also provide other energy products and pyrotechnic devices for the defense industry, as well as advanced battery chargers and other power solutions for business, industrial and recreational applications. EaglePicher Technologies is headquartered in Joplin, Mo. For more information, visit www.eaglepicher.com.

EaglePicher Corporation, based in Inkster, Mich., is a private equity fund with business in 9 industries: automotive, defense, space, commercial power, nuclear, semi-conductors, filtration, pharmaceuticals, and medical. Its companies include Hillsdale Automotive, LLC, Wolverine Advanced Materials, LLC, EaglePicher Boron, LLC, EaglePicher Technologies, LLC, EaglePicher Medical Batteries, LLC, EaglePicher Pharmaceutical Services, LLC, and EaglePicher Filtration & Minerals, LLC. For more information, visit www.eaglepicher.com

EaglePicher(TM) is a trademark of EaglePicher Corporation.

Source: EaglePicher Technologies, LLC

CONTACT: Art Fiacco of EaglePicher Technologies, LLC, +1-480-837-3948, or
Mobile +1-480-748-1389

Web site: http://www.eaglepicher.com/