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2002-10-29

ORBIT IRRIGATION PRODUCTS, INC. TAKES QUALITY ASSURANCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Bob Holiday Hired as Executive VP of Quality

North Salt Lake City, Utah - October 29, 2002 – Orbit® Irrigation Products, Inc., one of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of irrigation products for the residential and commercial markets announced today that they have hired an executive vice president of quality.  Bob Holiday, the former corporate director of quality at U.S. Robotics reports directly to Orbit CEO, K.C. Ericksen

"We have always been concerned with quality at Orbit,” said Ericksen, “In fact, before Bob, we already had 12 people on our quality team working on inspections and keeping our products at the very top of the quality spectrum.  Hiring Bob to work with our team takes us to a new level – a level that will allow us to compete against anyone and operate as a world-class company.”

Holiday is the first executive vice president of quality at Orbit.  He comes with over 20 years of experience in quality assurance.  Holiday has already strengthened his department by hiring a director of quality systems, a manager of quality assurance and a data analyst.

“Orbit is large enough that we have to start thinking about how to compete in the world marketplace,” said Holiday.  “Every company wants to be a quality, world-class company.  What is world class?  It"s a company with products and services that stand above the rest.”

Holiday plans to achieve world-class status by implementing the International Standards Organization (ISO) 9000 processes and achieving certification by July 2003.  ISO 9000 is a quality standard used throughout the world that includes third party assessors reviewing Orbit.  It encompasses developing processes throughout the company, defining those processes, documenting them, training people in the processes, measuring and then improving the processes.

“That’s just the beginning,” said Holiday.  “We’ll continue to improve our quality system.  My goal is to compete against the best for quality leadership.  The  Malcolm Baldridge National Quality award criteria will be our yardstick.” 

About Orbit

Orbit Irrigation Products is the market share leader in the retail do-it-yourself irrigation business.  Orbit manufactures and distributes more than 1,500 quality lawn and garden irrigation products to customers worldwide under the sub-brand names Orbit Professional®, WaterMaster®, DripMaster®, SunMate® and Arizona Mist®.  Orbit products can be purchased both domestically and internationally at most contractor supply houses, home improvement stores, and lawn and garden centers.  For more information go to www.orbitonline.com or call 1-800-488-6156.