Press Release

Award Is MSA's Fourth Helmet Contract Over Last Eight Months

PITTSBURGH, June 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mine Safety Appliances Company (Amex: MSA) today announced it has secured a $26.3 million contract from the U.S. Army to produce 85,800 Advanced Combat Helmets for the military.
The award follows a $16.8 million helmet contract, which was announced in February. Since November of 2003, MSA has secured four contracts from the Army totaling more than $104 million and covering production of more than 315,000 helmets.

"We're very proud of the fact that the U.S. military has embraced the ACH in such a positive way," Mr. Herring said. "As a company that has been involved in helping to protect our nation's military personnel since World War I, we put tremendous value on our military business and we welcome this opportunity to help protect today's men and women in uniform."

The ACH differs from older-style military helmets in that it incorporates a new, lightweight design that offers soldiers advanced ballistic protection with greater comfort and stability. The ACH has been credited with saving several lives in military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. The ongoing increase in helmet production is enabling the Army to provide the helmets to a broader range of military personnel. Initially, the helmets were used only by Special Forces Units.

Commenting on the multiple contracts MSA has received for the ACH, Mr. Herring noted that the company has received strong support from U.S. senators and several congressional representatives from Vermont and Pennsylvania, where the MSA helmets are produced. "Our U.S. legislators here and in Vermont have been outspoken proponents of the ACH," he said. "They are committed to equipping our fighting men and women with the most advanced protection available, and we at MSA are certainly grateful for that support."

In January, the MSA helmet was judged by the Army to be among the greatest inventions of 2002 based on evaluations conducted by six active Army Divisions and the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. After reviewing more than 30 nominated products, evaluators provided their ranked list to U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command for consolidation into a list of 10 top inventions, which included the MSA helmet.

Established in 1914, MSA is a global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of sophisticated products that protect people's health and safety. The company has annual sales of nearly $700 million, manufacturing operations throughout the United States and Europe and 28 international affiliates. Since the company's founding, MSA products for the military have been used in two world wars, as well as Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq. More information about MSA is available on the company's Web site at http://www.msanet.com .

SOURCE MSA