BRADY CORPORATION TAKES INITIATIVE ON RoHS COMPLIANCE

MILWAUKEE -- (February 3, 2005) --Brady Corporation (NYSE:BRC) has been proactively and aggressively validating its products for compliance with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) legislation passed by the European Parliament and Council of the European Union (EU) that will take effect on July 1, 2006. This legislation mandates that new electrical and electronic equipment containing more than designated maximum allowable levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants will not be allowed to enter the EU market.

Brady, a worldwide manufacturer of high performance identification materials and specialty tapes has been conducting exhaustive testing of its products to ensure that all materials are compliant with RoHS. This includes tracing any materials used through the supply chain and validating that they are all compliant with the RoHs Directive.

Materials are sent out to a third-party lab for testing for the presence of the six materials cited in the Directive. Reports are compiled for validation to OEM customers who need to provide this information to be in compliance. Brady materials that are in compliance with the RoHS Directive will be clearly distinguishable so customers can easily order the compliant materials.

"Brady has invested substantial resources to ensure that all of our materials and those used throughout our supply chain will be in compliance with the RoHS Directive. We have educated our staff thoroughly on the components of this legislation so they can speak to any compliance questions and address any issues or concerns that may arise," says Brady Product Manager.

"This legislation is very important and will have a far-reaching effect on all manufacturers. In effect, any manufacturer not in compliance by June 1, 2006, they will not be able do business with the EU. Our OEM customers can be certain that materials that are purchased from Brady will meet or exceed the compliance criteria."

For additional information on Brady products, please visit www.bradycanada.com. Information in RoHS compliance will be posted on the site as it becomes available.

Brady Corporation is an international manufacturer and marketer of complete identification solutions and specialty materials, with products including high-performance labels and signs, printing systems and software, label-application and data-collection systems, safety devices and precision die-cut materials for electronics, telecommunications, manufacturing, electrical, construction, laboratory and a variety of other markets. Founded in 1914, Brady is headquartered in Milwaukee and employs approximately 4,000 employees worldwide. Brady had fiscal 2004 sales of $671 million. More corporate information is available on the Internet at www.bradycorp.com.

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