NEWS RELEASE

ECT Enters Strategic Partnership with Weidmuller

BROOKFIELD, WI, January 18, 2001 - ECT International, the market leader in electrical design software, has entered into a strategic partnership with Weidmuller Inc. in a move designed to provide greater convenience and increased product access for customers of both companies.

Included under the agreement are Weidmuller's wide range of DIN rail interface devices such as terminal blocks, power supplies, signal converters, PLC cable adapters and relays. Weidmuller will provide ECT with detailed product information that will be added to the parts database included with ECT's promis•e® control system design software. The Weidmuller parts data also will be available separately on CD-ROM and as a download from both companies' Web sites. The companies will share sales and marketing opportunities.

"It really helps the users of our software to have this Weidmuller parts data," said Arthur Sawall, president of ECT International. "By providing a database that already contains data on such widely used products, we relieve the user from having to enter this information."

"We believe this new agreement will greatly benefit our customers, particularly design engineers, by providing them with greater access to our products via the ECT software packages," said Carl Hicks of Weidmuller. "It is part of our mission to be the preeminent supplier of interconnection products in the U.S. by providing a full range of quality and flexible solutions to meet the needs of customers across the industrial control market."

Weidmuller, Inc. is the U.S operation of Germany-based Weidmuller Interface GmbH, the world's leading supplier of terminal blocks, printed circuit board terminals and connectors, electronic interface modules and enclosures. Weidmuller has about 4,500 employees worldwide, with a presence in 75 countries. Weidmuller, Inc. was established in Richmond in 1975 and today employs about 130 people in its U.S. operations.

ECT International Inc. is a developer of control system design software located in Brookfield, WI.

For more information, contact:

ECT International, Inc.
Gregg Weirauch
Phone: (262) 781-1511
Fax: (262) 781-8411
Email: gregg.weirauch@ecti.com

Weidmuller, Inc.
Marketing Communications Manager
Phone (800) 849-9342
Fax (804) 794-0252

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promis•e is a registered trademark of ECT International, Inc.