PRESS RELEASE: CHICAGO, May 11, 2010

The A.W.T. World Trade Group today announced it has acquired the full line of General Cylinder Press and other assets of BecMar Corporation of Bailey, Michigan.

General originally developed and patented the cylinder screen printing press in 1948 and has been manufacturing it ever since. General has an installed base of hundreds worldwide.

“This is an exciting acquisition for A.W.T. that adds a new line to our already impressive array of screen printing-related machines, supplies, parts and services,” said Michael Green, president. “We intend to shift manufacturing of the General line to our Chicago headquarters and main manufacturing facility.”

Added Sue Proctor, former owner of BecMar: “This is an outstanding opportunity for General to reach a new level of growth with a well-respected company that has a global presence. We look forwarded to integrating the product line into A.W.T.’s operations and benefitting from its exceptional engineering team.”

Sue Proctor will join A.W.T. to assist in the transition and integration of General products into the A.W.T. line.

“Our highly experienced engineers will be introducing further enhancements to the General line,” Green said, “much like we’ve done since 2002 when we acquired American M&M, another pioneer in the screen printing industry. We are already quite familiar with the General line. Our parts division, Graphic Parts International Inc., has been manufacturing and distributing General replacement parts for several years.”

Green also noted that A.W.T.’s history with General dates back to 1983 when Advance Process Supply Co.-American M&M, which A.W.T.’s principals also owned, bought General. BecMar bought General from Advance Process in 1992.