WEST WARWICK, RI, Sep 09, 2009 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Astro-Med, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALOT) announced today that it has been
certified to AS9100, the quality management system specifically
designed for manufacturers of aerospace industry products.
Everett V. Pizzuti, President and COO, stated, "Companies in the
aerospace industry are increasingly selecting suppliers on the basis
of AS9100 certification. Achieving certified status means that
Astro-Med can now bring in new business that may have been outside
our reach in the past, and that we will be able to continue to
satisfy our existing aerospace customers long into the future."
Astro-Med's Ruggedized Products will benefit most directly from the
AS9100 certification, according to Pizzuti. Astro-Med Ruggedized
airborne printers and ruggedized Ethernet switches are sold to the
commercial and military aerospace industry, as well as to
non-aerospace customers.
According to the company, AS9100 is more rigorous than the ISO 9001
standard to which many manufacturers certify, with AS9100
incorporating all of the ISO 9001 requirements as well as additional
aerospace specific requirements that are used to plan, build, test,
and deliver products and services for the aerospace industry.
Commenting on the AS9100 certification, Steven G. Holbrook,
Astro-Med's Manager of Quality Assurance, said, "Our Quality
Management System forms the bedrock upon which we stand as a
quality-driven manufacturer, and AS9100 certification underscores our
firm foundation. The aerospace industry requires very high
reliability products, and while AS9100 certification is most relevant
to our ruggedized airborne products, we maintain the same discipline
throughout our quality process. I am pleased and proud that
Astro-Med, Inc. maintains the highest quality management standards
for each industry sector we serve."
In addition to holding AS9100 certification, Astro-Med is an FAA part
145 certified repair station, is certified to ISO 9001:2008 which
specifies requirements to provide products that meet applicable
customer, statutory, and regulatory requirements within a system of
continual improvement, and is also certified to ISO 13485:2003, which
specifies requirements for a quality management system that provides
medical devices and related services that consistently meet customer
requirements and applicable regulatory requirements.
Astro-Med's AS9100 certification was issued by Intertek, the world's
largest independent testing, inspection, and certification body.
According to the Holbrook, Astro-Med, Inc. spent over a year
developing new systems and processes to meet the demanding
requirements of the AS9100 Quality Management System, and Astro-Med
attained one of the highest scores possible after the two stage
Intertek audit, which included a full week of on-site review and
inspection.
About Astro-Med, Inc.
Astro-Med, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of specialty high tech
printing systems, electronic medical instrumentation, and test and
measurement instruments. Astro-Med, Inc. products are sold under the
brand names Astro-Med(R), Grass(R) Technologies, and QuickLabel(R)
Systems, and are employed around the world in a wide range of
aerospace, medical, military, industrial, and packaging applications.
Astro-Med Inc is a member of the Russell Microcap(R) Index.
Additional information is available by visiting www.Astro-MedInc.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements, and actual
results may vary from those expressed or implied herein. Factors that
could affect these results include those mentioned in Astro-Med's
FY2009 annual report and its annual and quarterly filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
Press Contact:
Everett V. Pizzuti
President, COO
(401) 828-4000
Astro-Med, Inc.
600 East Greenwich Avenue
West Warwick, Rhode Island 02893 USA
SOURCE: Astro-Med, Inc.