Announcing Shipping Rate Increases

To Our Valued Customers:

Rising fuel charges have been an unfortunate reality for all of us this year.

The enormous surge in oil and gas prices has triggered very significant increases in shipping rates which we are forced to pass along. In fact, we have subsidized these increases for many months without increasing the shipping rates we charge our customers in the hope that these increases would only be temporary. Please know that we hope that the oil and gas rates will return to normal levels and that we will be able to return to our current freight rates at some point soon.

Beginning November 1, 2005, shipping charges on our production will be increased. Please review the new prices below.

Please rest assured that despite the effect of rising fuel charges on other aspects of our manufacturing process, we are working hard to keep our costs low and do not anticipate increasing your production prices.

Thanks for your understanding and cooperation in this matter.