Marketing Vice President Joins Merrimac

WEST CALDWELL, NJ (April 17, 1997) - Merrimac Industries, Inc. (AMEX: MRM) President and Chief Executive Officer, Mason N. Carter, announced today that Richard E. Dec is joining the Merrimac Team as Vice President of Marketing, responsible for global marketing for all new and existing products, market segmentation, positioning and creating demand for Merrimac products and services:

"Working with Engineering, Operations and Sales, Rich will help to enhance our product leadership position."

"He was responsible for creating and implementing marketing programs to increase revenue growth for financial and management consulting services (manufacturing, high tech, information technology, banking, healthcare, insurance, and merger and acquisition services) by providing marketing expertise to National Industry Partners and to over 100 operating offices."

"Dec has previously worked with me as Global Director of Market Development and Strategic Planning for AeroJet General's HR International subsidiary. He evaluated new product/market opportunities for affiliate companies located in the U.S. and Europe and was responsible for market research, acquisition analysis and licensing negotiations, pricing policy, advertising and sales promotion, and distribution of diverse product lines worldwide. These aftermarket products consisted of a wide-range of value priced engineered products ranging from mechanical products to robotics and sophisticated microprocessor controlled products."

"Dec obtained his Degree in Chemistry and an MBA in Marketing from Seton Hall University and is a member of Seton Hall's 'Hall of Fame.' He has been a guest speaker at several national industry association meetings such as the AICPA National Marketing Conference, Information Industry Association and currently is scheduled to speak at the 1997 New Jersey Governor's Business Conference."

"This is another commitment we are making towards reaching our Goal of Profitable Growth."

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., with locations in West Caldwell, NJ and San Jose, Costa Rica, has approximately 160 employees in the design and manufacture of high-performance components and subsystems for communications, defense and aerospace 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 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