Page 3 of 3 – 3M, Head Lites Address Homeland Security

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jason LaDuca

Cohn & Wolfe

212-798-9780

Colleen Harris

3M Public Relations

651-733-1566

3M, HEAD LITES CORPORATION HELP VARIOUS SECURITY AGENCIES COLLABORATE ON THE HOMEFRONT

Custom-Tailored with Quick-Turnaround, Capabilities-Based Personal Protection Equipment Enhances Visibility and Recognition Among Security Agencies

ST. PAUL, Minn., July 30, 2003 – Visibility and recognition are critical elements for effectively integrating homeland security and first response units working together to ensure domestic safety. With so many national, regional and local agencies offering support in security initiatives, easily distinguishing one from the other for their unique role is paramount in successfully dealing with any security situation.

To ensure that homeland security personnel are properly recognized when working with other safekeeping forces, Head Lites Corporation has developed custom personal protective equipment featuring Scotchlite reflective material from 3M to help recognize and easily differentiate various homeland security organizations. Proper uniform design with high visibility and easy recognition is essential when various organizations commingle at the same sites.

“With federal, state and local government agencies working side-by-side, high visibility is vital to successful communication during emergencies,” said Gary Pearson, market development manager, 3M Personal Safety Products. “Head Lites’ development of personal protective equipment with Scotchlite reflective material addresses this need by providing highly visible and distinctly marked safety apparel.”

Head Lites’ personal protective equipment featuring Scotchlitereflective material is a premier visibility and communication enhancer in safety apparel for first response and homeland security units. The personal protective equipment – individual tactical load bearing vests, bags and headgear – is capabilities based with emphasison ) enhancing visibility and communication. It isalso uniquely tailored to what the individual is doing and is appropriate for multi-agency use. Perhaps most importantly, Head Lites provides speedy turnaroundwhen commissioned to develop personal protective equipment featuring Scotchlite reflective materialthatis critical to today's emergency-preparednessclimate.

“To respond quickly to the needs of national and regional security personnel, we prioritized the development of personal protective equipment to take care of the safety apparel issue for them,” said Gary Lesley, president, Head Lites Corporation. “Agencies thought of it, but they simply did not have time to create a comprehensive homeland security strategy and then address issues like safety apparel. Fortunately, we had been working on equipment for these situations prior to the rise in need.”

Capitol Police Adopt New Equipment

Head Lites worked with the Capitol Police in Washington, D.C., for more than four years on the issue of visibility enhancement of personal protective equipment. The Capitol Police expressed a need for multiple applications that could be tailored to the role an individual was serving, effectively addressing the inevitable issue of “Who’s Who, Who’s Where?” during emergencies.

Personal protective equipment was custom made for the Capitol Police Advance Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT). The equipment includes Scotchlite reflective material to enhance visibility and differentiation and help increase the accuracy of knowing “Who’s Who, Who’s Where?” during times of crisis. They are also customized to include several storage areas for various equipment needs.

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That same Head Lites custom process is available to all homeland security and first response agencies. Since 3M offers such a wide variety of reflective materials, Head Lites can work with homeland security professionals to easily incorporate graphics, colors and logos that enhance the functionality of their custom-tailored personal protective equipment. Also, Scotchlite reflective material fabrics and films can be converted into webbing, trim, or graphic transfers, providing unlimited options for creating highly visible designs, patterns, and accents.

“The personal safety products team at 3M is committed to making this tough job a whole lot easier,” Head Lites’ Lesley said. “By providing information, research, reflective applications and garment design consultation, 3M has become the industry’s most trusted resource. Today, visibility is Scotchlite reflective material.”

About 3M

3M is a $16 billion diversified technology company with leading positions in consumer and office; display and graphics; electronics; health care; industrial; safety, security and protection services; transportation and other businesses. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, the company has operations in more than 60 countries and serves customers in nearly 200 countries. 3M, which marked its 100th anniversary in 2002, is one of the 30 stocks that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average and also is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. For more information about 3M, go to www.3M.com or www.3M.com/profile/pressbox/

For more information on Scotchlite reflective material products, please visit the Web site at www.3M.com/Scotchlite.

For more information on Head Lites Corporation please visit the Web site at www.headlites.com .

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3M and Scotchlite are trademarks of 3M. Head Lites is a trademark of Head Lites Corporation.