Gerber Technology Announces B2B E-Commerce Initiative; Provides Gerber's WebPDM Customers With Expanded Reach and Capabilities TOLLAND, Conn., Nov. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Gerber Technology, a subsidiary of Gerber Scientific Inc. (NYSE: GRB), announced today the first steps in a new initiative to enable companies to take better advantage of the rapidly growing B2B and e-commerce opportunities being offered to the apparel and soft goods industries. This initiative will allow Gerber's WebPDM(TM) (Product Data Management(R)) customers to harness the power of the Internet by providing a simple and direct interface to the world's leading Internet sourcing and content Web sites. Gerber customers are increasingly using the Internet to improve and accelerate their product development process. This initiative will enhance WebPDM's role in this process through the following three major elements: 1) A simple, seamless exchange of data between WebPDM and leading Internet content and sourcing providers; 2) An expansion of WebPDM's functionality that provides an easy-to-use, comprehensive system for the management of the entire product development process; and 3) The integration of WebPDM with the systems of major solution providers to ensure a complete supply chain management capability. Fred Rosen, president and CEO of Gerber Technology, said, "The Internet is becoming an indispensable part of the product development process. This initiative will provide our WebPDM customers the ability to accelerate the time from concept to prototype." He added, "We are in the process of partnering with leading Internet companies who will help shape the way the apparel industry will operate in the future. We will announce these relationships as they are finalized over the next several months." As new partners are added, existing customers will be able to upgrade current WebPDM systems to network with these various exchanges. As this initiative expands, it will create a Data Trade Zone(TM) for Gerber customers, where they can take full advantage of the power of numerous e-commerce exchanges directly from their WebPDM system in a neutral and secure environment. Gerber Scientific Inc. is the world's leading supplier of sophisticated automated manufacturing systems for mass customization in the sign making and specialty graphics, apparel and flexible goods, and optical lens processing industries. Headquartered in South Windsor, Connecticut, the Company operates through four wholly-owned subsidiaries: Gerber Technology, Gerber Coburn, Gerber Scientific Products, and Spandex PLC. Product Data Management is a registered trademark, and WebPDM and Data Trade Zone are trademarks of Gerber Technology, Inc. SOURCE Gerber Technology, Inc. Web Site: http://www.gerberscientific.com