Multi-Mix® Interdigital Filter Eliminates Tuning...

WEST CALDWELL, NJ (July 27, 1999) - Merrimac Industries, Inc. (Amex: MRM) introduces a family of bandpass filters that totally eliminates aggravating and costly tuning. This breakthrough design removes a variable that often costs users valuable time and expense.

In making this announcement, Mason N. Carter, Chairman and CEO stated, "Until now, all filters required some tuning resulting from electrical tolerances, impedance mismatches and other device and circuit characteristics. Merrimac’s proprietary design optimizes each filter type. This design optimization combined with the properties of Multi-Mix® architecture allows for these filters to be incorporated in systems and subsystems without the need for additional tuning. This unique capability reduces ‘total product cost’ by eliminating external tuning circuits and, at least, one complete step from the production process.

"As with all Multi-Mix® designs, size and weight have been reduced greatly. Mass reductions of 10 to 30 times are not unusual. The properties of Multi-Mix®architecture allow these filters to be integrated with other components in small, planar, multifunction assemblies that can be made an order of magnitude smaller than conventional microwave and millimeter-wave techniques. This family of interdigital filters is the result of listening to our customers and creating solutions that address their concerns for tuning, size reduction and cost effectiveness," continued Carter.

The MMFM-FBGI filters are excellent replacements for bulky waveguide cavity filters and typically offer better overall performance than interdigital filters designed to the same specification with conventional filter fabrication techniques. They are available with center frequencies from 500 MHz to 40GHz and 1-dB bandwidths of 2% and higher. The filters are stable over a temperature range from -55 to +125 degrees C, and have inherently low electromagnetic emissions, complemented by full shielding. The power handling capability of the MMFM-FBGI Series of filters is typically rated at twenty watts. The MMFM-FBGI filters require no additional tuning after installation. The use of the Multi-Mixä technology has eliminated the need for additional costly housings and RF connections, however the flexible technology allows for the MMFM-FBGI filters to be installed in housings if required by the customers. By using a material with a dielectric constant higher than air in their design, the MMFM-FBGI filters offer substantial size and weight reduction when compared to air cavity filters. An example of this technology is the MMFM-FBGI-7.6GHz. This filter has a pass band of 500MHz centered at 3.85GHz and provides greater than 50dB rejection below 3.0GHz and above 4.6GHz. The footprint of this filter is only 0.67" x 0.69" x 0.04" (l, w, h) and weighs only 0.8 grams, when compared to an air cavity filter can be 3.30" x 1.00" x 1.50" (l, w, h) and weighs 112 grams.

Merrimac’s MMFM-FBGI interdigital filters are designed and fabricated using Merrimac’s Multi-Mix® manufacturing process. This multilayer planar manufacturing technique allows components as well as multifunctional "supercomponents" to be realized that are smaller, lighter, and less expensive to manufacture than with traditional microwave manufacturing methods. The intrinsic properties of the Multi-Mix® process facilitate the integration of embedded semiconductors, MMICs, etched resistors, circuit patterns, plated-through via-holes, and other components, in a surface-mount module that requires no additional packaging and can be placed on the circuit board automatically with standard pick-and-place equipment.

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 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