Merrimac Granted Multi-Mix® Mixer Patent

WEST CALDWELL, NJ (April 3, 2001) - Merrimac Industries, Inc. (AMEX: MRM), a leader in the design and manufacture of RF Microwave components, assemblies and Micro-Multifunction (MMFM®) Modules, today announced that it has been granted a patent from the United States Patent & Trademark Office entitled "Microwave Mixer With Baluns Having Rectangular Coaxial Transmission Lines."

The patent relates to an improved multilayer mixer that enables Merrimac to offer performance benefits over other currently available mixers for microwave integrated circuits (MIC) and monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC) at reduced size, weight and cost.

According to Chairman & CEO Mason N. Carter, the new technology broadens the universe of customers by increasing manufacturing flexibility and improving performance characteristics. "This patent is another important step in positioning Merrimac as a leading producer of components and multifunction modules found in cutting-edge wireless, satellite and military communication systems. We continue to meet the demands of both our existing customers and new customers who look to us to provide innovative solutions, in this case the improved design of mixers that are used to multiply and translate frequency.

Mixers are an important element in the design of wireless front-end transceivers, which are typically found in such applications as mobile radios, pagers, point-to-point and point-to- multipoint radios, local multipoint distribution services (LMDS), global positioning systems (GPS) and microwave TV/wireless cable signaling channeling line-of-sight communications systems from supplier transmitter to subscriber rooftop and set-top box. Mixers integrated with a variety of Merrimac's Multi-Mix® filters form the basic building blocks for front-end transceiver designs."

Present technologies have several shortcomings that the patent seeks to overcome. The bandwidth provided by monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) technology is typically limited, and the development cost is high. Lumped-element technology has an upper frequency limitation, and is labor-intensive to produce. Microwave integrated circuit (MIC) technology produces structures that are physically larger, and utilizes metal frames or housings that further increase the size of the package.

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 260 co-workers dedicated to the design and manufacture of signal processing components, gold plating of high frequency microstrip, bonded stripline and thick metal-backed Teflon (PTFE) micro-circuitry and subsystems providing Total Integrated Packaging Solutions^TM wireless applications. 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 the Company (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; the risk that the Company will not be able to continue to raise sufficient capital to expand its operations as currently contemplated by its business strategy; risks relating to governmental regulatory actions in communications and defense programs; risks associated with demand for and market acceptance of existing and newly developed products; and inventory risks due to technological innovation and product obsolescence, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the Company 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