Cascade Engineering Expands Into Health Care Market

Surge Medical, LLC to Develop, Distribute Cardiovascular Products

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan, March 31, 2005, - Cascade Engineering today announced a joint venture with Holland, Mich.-based Surge Medical, Inc. to develop and distribute cardiovascular medical devices and accessories to heart surgeons throughout the United States. The new company, Surge Medical Solutions, LLC, will operate out of Holland.

Surge Medical is currently designing and developing products, with manufacturing slated to begin in the coming months. Products will include cardiovascular surgical tools and accessories, emergency service products and medical accessories. The company was established with a stated mission to improve surgical products and enhance patient outcomes.

“We are excited to announce this new partnership with Surge Medical and look forward to entering this important market with innovative products that raise the bar for cardiac centers” said Kathy Bolhous, Cascade Engineering vice president of emerging solutions.

“This partnership reflects our goal of building a sustainable business that positively impacts the environment, the community and our organization as a whole.” said Fred Keller, Cascade Engineering chairman and chief executive officer. “Cascade Engineering has always looked for emerging opportunities to grow our business into markets that expand our manufacturing initiatives and push our organization to develop creative solutions.”

Cascade Engineering, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based leader in engineered plastics systems and components, initiated a health care market diversification strategy in March of 2004, investigating the sector for potential diversification and growth opportunities. According to research, the healthcare market has grown 2.5 times faster than the US GDP and much faster than other market sectors.

Surge Medical provides a strong distribution network with a national sales force and stable product line that boasts a growing list of proprietary products. Surge Medical also provides solutions to the emergency services and general hospital markets.

“We look forward to a strong relationship with Cascade Engineering,” said Ron DeVries, president of Surge Medical. “Over the past few years we have been looking for an advanced design and manufacturing partner to expand our operations. Cascade Engineering is an outstanding organization with a history of innovation, and we couldn’t be happier about this opportunity.”

A team of Surge executives, including DeVries, Steven Gundry, MD and Ray Lokers teamed with several Cascade Engineering representatives and the Emerging Solutions Group to develop the joint venture. Cascade Engineering currently serves a variety of other industries, including automotive, waste and industrial.

Dr. Steven R. Gundry, MD, FACS, FACC, is one of the nation’s leading cardiothoracic surgeons, holding many academic appointments and known for his work in the application of retrograde cardioplegia, a method for stopping and protecting the heart during open-heart surgery.

Ron DeVries, president of Surge Medical Solutions, LLC, has served the cardiothoracic medical device market for more than 30 years. His career has spanned extensive medical sales, business and product development.

Ray Lokers, vice president of finance for Surge Medical Solutions, LLC, has spent more than 15 years in the medical industry including serving as chief financial officer for DLP, Inc., a firm specializing in cardiac cannulae used during open-heart surgery

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