Merrimac Granted a Second Patent for Multi-Mix(TM) Waveguide Filter

WEST CALDWELL, NJ (December 4, 2000) - Merrimac Industries, Inc. (AMEX: MRM), a leader in the design and manufacture of RF Microwave components, assemblies and Micro-Multifunction (MMFM^TM) Modules today announced that it has been granted another patent for its Multi-Mix^TM Waveguide Filter from the United States Patent and Trademark Office entitled "Multilayer Dielectric Evanescent Mode Waveguide Filter."

Merrimac Chairman and CEO, Mason N. Carter commented, "This patent complements the Waveguide Filter patent which we recently announced on November 14, 2000, while providing us with a competitive advantage in future narrow band filter designs. Such filters are typically found in wireless applications such as basestations, mobile radios, pagers, point to point and point to multipoint radios, local multipoint distribution service, (LMDS), global positioning system (GPS) and microwave TV/wireless cable (signal channeling for line of sight communications systems from supplier transmitter to subscriber rooftop and set top box)."

Carter continued, "This patent enables us to lower our costs for mass production and to achieve better performance in the design of narrow band filters. This patent, coupled with the earlier announced Waveguide Filter patent, helps us position ourselves to better serve key market opportunities and to provide more value to our customers by reducing size, weight and cost."

Very narrow bandwidths with minimal insertion loss and high selectivity at microwave frequencies are achievable utilizing a multilayer dielectric, evanescent mode waveguide, bandpass filter with resonators employing via hole technology. A typical implementation of this filter is fabricated with soft substrate multilayer dielectrics and with high dielectric constant ceramics. These filters can be designed with frequency ranges from approximately 0.5 GHz to approximately 60 GHz. This filter typically takes up less space than other filters presently available and requires no tuning.

Multi-Mix^TM Microtechnology is a new innovative and proprietary solution for microwave, multilayer integrated MMFM^TMcircuits. This process is based on fluoropolymer composite substrates, which are bonded together into a multilayer structure using a fusion bonding process. The fusion process provides a homogeneous dielectric medium for superior electrical performance at microwave frequencies. The bonded layers may incorporate embedded semiconductor devices, MMICs, etched resistors, active and passive circuit elements and plated-through via holes to form a three-dimensional subsystem enclosure that requires no further packaging.

About Merrimac

Merrimac Industries, Inc. is a leader in the design and manufacture of RF Microwave components, assemblies and Micro-Multifunction (MMFM®) Modules serving the wireless telecommunications industry worldwide with enabling technologies for commercial applications. Merrimac is focused on providing Total Integrated Packaging Solutions^TM with Multi-Mix Microtechnology®, a leading edge competency providing value to our customers through miniaturization and integration. The Multi-Mix® process for microwave, multilayer integrated MMFM® circuits is a patented method developed at Merrimac Industries based on fluoropolymer composite substrates. The fusion bonding of multilayer structures provides a homogeneous dielectric medium for superior electrical performance at microwave frequencies. The bonded layers may incorporate embedded semiconductor devices, MMICs, etched resistors, passive circuit elements and plated-through via holes to form a three-dimensional subsystem enclosure that requires no further packaging. Merrimac Industries, Inc. is ISO 9001 certified.

Merrimac Industries, Inc. and its subsidiary Filtran Microcircuits Inc., with locations in West Caldwell, NJ, San Jose, Costa Rica, and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, have approximately 200 co-workers in the design and manufacture of signal processing components, gold plating of high-frequency microstrip, bonded stripline and thick metal-backed Teflon (PTFE) micro-circuitry, MMFM™ and subsystems. Merrimac (MRM) is listed on the American Stock Exchange. For more information about Merrimac Industries, visit its home page at www.merrimacind.com.

This press release contains statements relating to future results of Merrimac (including certain projections and business trends) that are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: general economic and industry conditions; slower than anticipated penetration into the satellite communications, defense and wireless markets; the risk that the benefits expected from the acquisition of Filtran Microcircuits Inc. are not realized; the ability to protect proprietary information and technology; competitive products and pricing pressures; risks relating to governmental regulatory actions in communications and defense programs; and inventory risks due to technological innovation, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in Merrimac's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and Merrimac undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Contacts

Mason N. Carter, Chairman and CEO,
Tel: 973.575.1300, Ext. 1202; Fax: 973.882.5989
E-mail: mnc@merrimacind.com