Media Contact Information:
Brad Wackerlin
Senior Marketing Communications Specialist
Charles Industries, Ltd.
(847) 258-8458
bwackerl@charlesindustires.com  

CHARLES INDUSTRIES ANNOUNCES HIRING OF JOE BURKE AS VICE PRESIDENT OF TELECOM SALES

New VP Brings 25 Years of Successful Sales Leadership Experience to the Charles Team

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL (October 7, 2011) — Charles Industries, Ltd. has announced that Joseph T. (Joe) Burke, Jr. has joined the company as vice president of telecom sales.  With 25 years' experience in telecommunications and manufacturing services sales management, Burke brings extensive experience and industry recognition to his new position on Charles’ Senior Management Team.

Burke’s responsibilities will include Global Sales coordination and management of Charles Industries Telecommunications Group. In this capacity, he will lead and oversee implementation of strategic sales and customer development, as well as Charles’ sales organization and structure. Together with his sales team, Burke will work to maximize Charles’ global presence and market share in providing broadband and outside plant environmental enclosure solutions to the telecommunications, wireless, utility and cable TV markets.

Burke’s 25-year industry experience includes strategic business planning and implementation, worldwide sales and marketing leadership, new business and market development, and product development and management. Burke has succeeded in previous positions including Group Vice President with ADC Telecommunications, Vice President of Sales with Edgecom Corporation, Executive Vice President with Fabrinet and most recently as President & CEO of Quasar Technologies.

“Joe’s telecom industry experience, strategic planning and successful track record in managing sales and marketing teams will be an invaluable asset to Charles,” states Robert Novak, senior vice president and COO of Charles Industries.  “Our company is well positioned for growth in areas that we’ve only just begun to penetrate; including wireless, utility and CATV markets. We believe Joe is the right individual to strategically lead our team in new directions while still improving on our reputation of exceeding our telecommunication partners’ expectations.”

Burke holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Bonaventure University of New York and is a former military officer in the United States Army. He will be based out of Charles Industries’ corporate headquarters in Rolling Meadows, Illinois.

2011 marks Charles Industries’ 43rd year as a privately held, diversified manufacturing and technology company serving telecommunications, CATV, marine and industrial markets. Founded in 1968, the company is ISO 9001:2008 and TL 9000 registered and headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, with four additional U.S.-based manufacturing centers. For further information, please visit www.charlesindustries.com or call (847) 806-6300.

CHARLES INDUSTRIES NAMED TO BROADBAND PROPERTIES MAGAZINE'S TOP 100 BROADBAND COMPANIES FOR FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL (September 16, 2009) — Charles Industries, Ltd., a leading provider of network edge innovations for telecommunications providers, has been named a Top 100 Broadband Company in Broadband Properties Magazine’s 2009 list of fiber network vendors.  The list recognizes those organizations that are advancing the cause of Fiber-to-the-Premise (FTTP) in the United States. First appearing in 2006, this year’s list marks the fourth consecutive year Charles Industries has been named to Broadband Properties’ Top 100.

Broadband Properties compiles its annual list of the Top 100 by an editorial panel that reviews over 600 vendors for their contributions to helping service providers deploy fiber networks.  Vendors include hardware manufacturers of inside and outside plant equipment, developers of PON technologies, and developers of network monitoring, provisioning and customer service software. Charles has been recognized for developing innovative outside plant enclosures for fiber splice points, including Charles Fiber Distribution Points (CFDP Pedestals), Buried Distribution Optical Pedestals (BDO Pedestals), Charles Fiber Flexibility Pedestals (CFFP), Charles Fiber Cross Connects (CFXC), Charles Multi-Purpose Housings (CMPH) and Charles Universal Broadband Enclosures (CUBE).

 “Being named as a Top 100 Broadband Company is an honor for Charles,” said Jack Wood, vice president of sales for Charles Industries.  “It is a testament to our commitment to meeting our customers’ broadband needs through innovative new solutions. We listen to our customers’ needs and use that input to create broadband enclosure solutions that cost-effectively meet specific needs.  It is this dedication to solving real-world deployment challenges that keeps us on this list.”

Charles Industries has provided the telecommunications, CATV and utilities markets with non-metallic distribution pedestals since 1968, and began offering fiber optic solutions in 2001. Broadband outside plant product lines include buried distribution pedestal and cabinet solutions for every fiber type (ribbon, loose buffer tube or central core tube) and distribution method (mechanical splice, fusion splice, or pre-connectorized).

About Charles Industries, Ltd.
2009 marks Charles Industries’ 41^st year as a privately held, diversified manufacturing and technology company serving telecommunications, CATV, marine and industrial markets. Founded in 1968, the company is ISO 9001:2000 and TL 9000 registered and headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, with four additional U.S.-based manufacturing centers. For further information, please visit www.charlesindustries.com or call (847) 806-6300.

CHARLES INDUSTRIES ACQUIRES CORNING CABLE SYSTEMS' MOLDED PEDESTAL AND HOUSING PRODUCT LINE FOR cATV AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS APPLICATIONS

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL (Oct 21, 2008) — Charles Industries, Ltd. announced today that it has reached an agreement with Corning Cable Systems LLC, a leading provider of fiber optic cable and hardware solutions, to acquire the company’s molded pedestal product line for CATV and telecommunications applications.

As a leading provider of fiber, copper and hybrid fiber-coaxial outside plant (OSP) enclosures to the telecommunications industry, Charles’ acquisition of Corning’s non-metallic pedestal line will allow Charles to broaden its product offerings to the cable and telecommunications industries. Charles will capitalize on its 40 years of product development, design, manufacturing and sales experience of OSP, network and local loop electronics to further expand the Corning pedestal product line.

“The acquisition of Corning’s proven and established pedestal product line enables Charles to continue to offer telecommunication service providers, cable companies and multiple service operators a line of products that they have approved, deployed and trusted in their networks,” said Jack Wood, Charles Vice President of Sales. “Leveraging our expertise with environmental enclosures, active and passive optical fiber and thermal management, Charles is uniquely qualified to now support cable operators’ traditional coax, fiber to the home and RF over glass initiatives as they seek to extend their fiber networks closer to the subscriber.”

The newly acquired product line features above-grade non-louvered vertical pedestals, louvered vertical pedestals and louvered low-profile pedestals for CATV, broadband and telecommunications applications. In addition, these products provide a wide variety of mounting options and security for taps, splitters, amplifiers, line extenders and nodes. Several locking options are available to address specific security needs.

“We are pleased that Charles Industries, Ltd. will be offering continued support to our valued pedestal customers,” said Mickey Smith, Director of Sales for Corning Cable Systems. “This agreement will benefit service providers, cable companies and multiple service operators because Corning and Charles share the same philosophy of superior customer service.”

Corning Cable Systems will continue to support fiber management hardware such as the OptiSheath^® MultiPort Terminal for use in molded or extruded pedestals.

In the 1970s, Charles was the first manufacturer to introduce non-metallic buried distribution pedestals to the telecommunications industry. Today, Charles pedestals and housings offer superior environmental and flood protection with the advantages of low-maintenance and re-enterable, above-grade access. 2008 marks the third consecutive year that Charles Industries has been named one of the top 100 fiber companies by Broadband Properties Magazine. The annual list highlights those companies that are making a difference in fiber deployment and new technologies.

Charles’ newly acquired pedestal products will be introduced to the public at the 2008 OSP EXPO, to be held October 22-23 in Baltimore, Maryland, Charles exhibit #813.

About Charles Industries, Ltd.
2008 marks Charles Industries’ 40^th year as a privately held, diversified manufacturing and technology company serving telecommunications, marine and industrial markets. Founded in 1968, the company is ISO 9001:2000 and TL 9000 certified. With corporate headquarters in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, Charles Industries has four U.S.-based manufacturing plants. For further information, please visit www.charlesindustries.com or call (847) 806-6300.

About Corning Cable Systems
Corning Cable Systems, part of Corning’s telecommunications segment, is a leading manufacturer of fiber optic communications system solutions for voice, data and video network applications worldwide.

Corning Cable Systems offers the broadest range of end-to-end fiber optic and copper product solutions for customers' telecommunications networks. It puts companies at the forefront of network innovation, pioneering many of the global products and solutions commonly used in state-of-the-art cabling systems.

Corning Cable Systems develops and manufactures fiber optic and copper cable hardware and equipment including network interface devices, test equipment, splice equipment, cable assemblies and fiber optic and copper connectors; as well as providing network services worldwide. Our commitment to total quality and superior customer satisfaction distinguishes us as a leader in the telecommunications industry.

Charles Industries PARTNERS WITH JFC SOLUTIONS
TO SERVICE CANADIAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDERS

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL (April 30, 2008) – Charles Industries, Ltd.’s Telecommunications Group today announced that it has contracted with Canada’s top Telecom manufacturer’s sales representative company, JFC Solutions, to promote Charles’ outside plant and broadband communications products in all Canadian provinces.

Charles Industries has earned a strong reputation for providing field-proven outside plant environmental enclosures and buried distribution pedestals for copper and fiber optic networks throughout North America. The company also manufactures innovative extended-reach DSL solutions—including AdrenaLine, Smart Coil and the High Speed Voice and Data Link—that help service providers deliver high-speed Internet access to their most remote customers.  JFC Solutions will represent these Charles product lines to the Canadian market, helping build customer awareness and preference for Charles solutions.

 “The Canadian market presents an opportunity for growth,” stated Mark Rahmel, director, distributor/special market sales for Charles Industries. “JFC Solutions has a proven record of dedicated customer service and support. JFC’s extensive sales resources will greatly contribute to growing our market share in Canada, especially for our key product lines of fiber distribution pedestals and extended-reach DSL solutions.” 

JFC Solutions will provide sales, training and technical support of Charles products to Canadian telecommunications providers, construction and engineering firms, municipalities, government institutions, and Charles’ Canadian distribution partners.

“We’re very pleased Charles has chosen JFC to represent its products in the Canadian market,” said Jay Frezell, president of sales and marketing for JFC. “Charles and JFC have a mutual commitment to truly add value for their customers. We hope to leverage our professional sales team’s efforts and our experience to help build the Charles brand in Canada, while offering the highest levels of customer service and support.”

About Charles Industries, Ltd.
2008 marks Charles Industries’ 40^th year as a privately held, diversified manufacturing and technology company serving telecommunications, marine and industrial markets. Founded in 1968, the company is ISO 9001:2000 and TL 9000-H R4.0 certified and employs more than 500 professionals in its Rolling Meadows, Illinois, corporate headquarters and four U.S.-based manufacturing plants. For further information, please visit www.charlesindustries.com or call (847) 806-6300.

About JFC Solutions
JFC Solutions is Canada’s largest Telecommunications Rep Firm who has been servicing Canadian customers for over 12 years. JFC services the Canadian market from its Vancouver base’s Customer Service Center and via Regional Sales Managers spread out across the country. An award winning sales and service team with 2007 sales that exceeded $43 million, JFC is focused on providing Canadian customers the best service possible. For further information, please visit www.jfcsolutions.ca or call (800) 815-9959.

Charles Industries’ CMPH OSP Multi-purpose housings gRANTED rdup lISTING

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL (April 24, 2008) – Charles Industries, Ltd., a leading provider of network edge innovations for telecommunications providers, today announced that its family of Charles Multi-Purpose Housings (CMPH) for fiber optic and copper applications has been granted product acceptance by the Rural Development Utilities Program (RDUP), a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  RDUP listing allows rural telecommunications service providers to purchase and install this equipment using RDUP loans and grants.

CMPH are versatile outside plant enclosures designed for both new provisioning installations (greenfield applications) as well as rehabilitation of existing access points housed in metallic enclosures (brownfield applications). The CMPH’s superior structural strength, outstanding environmental protection and ease of installation combine to create a long-life, non-metallic housing that reduces operational expenses. CMPH are available in a copper and fiber optic configurations. The copper version has internal ladder bars and grounding hardware designed for large pair count copper splices.  The fiber optic version has offset mounting brackets designed for mounting sealed fiber optic closures and slack cable.

“RDUP listing of our CMPH housings is a tremendous asset for our customers,” said Minesh Patel, vice president of Charles’ Outside Plant Business Unit.  “Rural service providers want to provide their customers with the most reliable service possible, and are embarking on DSL and FTTx initiatives to do so.  The CMPH provides them with an RDUP-listed splicing and slack storage solution that will aid them in their high-speed Internet and triple play deployments.”

The Rural Development Utilities Program (formerly the Rural Utilities Service) has promoted universal service throughout America for more than 50 years and continues to provide many programs for financing rural America's telecommunications infrastructure. Rural providers that receive RDUP funds are encouraged to use RDUP equipment, and contractors use the list as a reference for reliable, field-proven technologies. The full list of RDUP accepted materials can be found on the USDA’s website at www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/index.htm.

 “We developed our CMPH series after listening to the concerns of rural service providers.  Many of their ideas for a convenient rehabilitation solution for metal cabinets were incorporated into our design,” said Jack Wood, vice president of sales Charles’ Telecommunications Group.  “We’re pleased that RDUP has recognized the standards-based protection our multi-purpose housings provide and has chosen to include them in their accepted materials list, making them available to our rural provider customers that utilize RDUP programs.”

About Charles Industries, Ltd.
2008 marks Charles Industries’ 40^th year as a privately held, diversified manufacturing and technology company serving telecommunications, marine and industrial markets. Founded in 1968, the company is ISO 9001:2000 and TL 9000-H R.40 certified and employs more than 500 professionals in its Rolling Meadows, Illinois, corporate headquarters and four U.S.-based manufacturing plants. For further information, please visit www.charlesindustries.com or call (847) 806-6300.

BACK TO THE TOP

Charles Industries announces hiring OF LaMArr Swann as National account manager to verizon

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL (March 24, 2008) – Charles Industries, Ltd., a diversified manufacturer of telecom, marine and industrial products, today announced that LaMarr Swann has joined the company’s Telecom Sales Team in the capacity of National Account Manager to Verizon Communications Inc.  In this role, Swann will lead Charles’ Verizon Sales Team by bringing his knowledge, industry expertise, account management skills, and business development relationships to support and grow the Verizon relationship in its nationwide footprint.

Swann brings to Charles more than twenty-five years of experience in the telecommunications industry from major companies including Carrier Access Corporation, Verilink, Marconi (now Emerson), and Lucent/AT&T.  He has held numerous executive management positions both in sales and business development. He was instrumental in helping Verizon and its predecessors set their strategies to deliver outstanding service to their 66 million wireless and 8 million wireline customers.

Swann will be reporting to Jack Wood, Vice President of Telecom Sales for Charles.  Wood sees Swann’s hiring as an affirmation of Charles’ commitment to customer service.  “LaMarr Swann has an excellent reputation and rapport with Verizon,” Wood stated.  “We have full confidence in him to establish Charles as a valuable, responsive partner to Verizon for innovative outside plant and transmission solutions within its wireless and wireline networks.”

Swann earned his Bachelor of Technology Degree in Electrical Engineering Technologies degree from the City College of New York.  He is also a graduate of the University of Southern California’s Executive Program.  Swann currently resides in Ellicott City, Maryland.

About Charles Industries, Ltd.
2008 marks Charles Industries’ 40^th year as a privately held, diversified manufacturing and technology company serving telecommunications, marine and industrial markets. Founded in 1968, the company is ISO 9001:2000 and TL 9000 certified and employs more than 600 professionals in its Rolling Meadows, Illinois, corporate headquarters and five U.S.-based manufacturing plants. For further information, please visit www.charlesindustries.com or call (847) 806-6300.  

BACK TO THE TOP

Charles INDUSTRIES ANNounces telecommunications group appointments focused on outside plant markets

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL — March 3, 2008 – Charles Industries Ltd., a privately held, diversified manufacturing and high-technology company today announced a restructuring of its Telecommunications Group to strategically emphasize the development, marketing and support of next-generation outside plant copper and fiber solutions. The restructuring efforts included new appointments for three key management members of Charles Telecommunications Group’s Outside Plant Business Unit: Dick Hood to Vice President - Market Development; Minesh Patel to Vice President - Outside Plant (OSP) Business Unit; and Dominic Imbrogno to Director - Copper Connectivity Solutions.

Dick Hood, Vice President - Market Development will lead Charles Telecommunications Group’s market development initiatives. Hood is the company’s former Vice President - Outside Plant Business Unit and has more than 30 years of telecommunications industry experience in deployment of telephony over fiber optic and copper solutions. “We are committed to expanding our OSP offering through organic growth, acquisitions and partnerships. In addition to current OSP strategies, we intend to create greater visibility and understanding of markets, customers, competitors and technologies associated with traditional telecom, CATV, Municipality, and Enterprise markets,” said Hood. Hood joined Charles in October 2003 and has served as Senior OSP Product Manager, Director - OSP Business Unit, and most recently Vice President of the OSP Business Unit since April 2006. The Market Development team will work closely with Charles’ OSP Business Unit and Telecom Sales Team.  Hood earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is a graduate of the Deming Management Method, Duke University’s School of Business. 

Minesh Patel, Vice President - Outside Plant (OSP) Business Unit will lead Charles’ OSP Business Unit and be responsible for management of all activities associated with OSP product line management, development, marketing and engineering. Patel joined Charles in September 2006 with 17 years experience with network access systems, power systems and enclosures for outside plant applications. He most recently served as the company’s Vice President - Broadband Access & Transmission Business Unit.  Patel earned an MBA from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois.  The Charles OSP product line currently includes fiber optic and copper pedestals, distribution enclosures and housings, extended reach copper line conditioners, and universal backhaul enclosures.

Dominic Imbrogno, Director - Copper Connectivity Solutions and the company’s former Director Broadband Access & Transmission Products, will report to Patel and be responsible for copper enhancement and DSL extension products, T1 transport, channel banks and voice frequency solutions. Imbrogno first served Charles as an electrical engineer intern. He was promoted to Product Line Manager in 2000, Senior Product Manager in 2002, and Director - Broadband Access & Transmission Products beginning in May 2006. Imbrogno earned and MBA from Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University and a BSEE from the University of Illinois.

In February of this year, Charles Industries announced that its Telecommunications Group has combined its former Broadband Access and Transmission Business Unit into its Outside Plant Business Unit.  It also divested itself of its multiplexer product line to Telco Systems.  “The divestiture of the multiplexer product line enables Charles to leverage forty years of core competencies in the outside plant and move forward with our plans to better align our company’s resources to strategic objectives associated with the development, marketing and support of fiber, copper, and access transport solutions for the outside plant,” said Bob Novak, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Charles.

Charles Industries was founded as an outside plant company in 1968.  Its legacy of OSP innovations includes the industry’s first load coils for voice signal improvement on copper pairs, and the Pedlock^®, the first non-metallic buried distribution pedestal for communications applications.  2008 marks the company’s 40^th anniversary as a leading manufacturer of outside plant solutions for both copper and fiber optic networks.

About Charles Industries, Ltd.
Charles Industries, Ltd., is a privately held, diversified manufacturing and technology company servicing telecommunications, marine and industrial markets since it’s founding in 1968. The company is ISO 9001:2000 and TL 9000-4H R4.0 certified and employs more than 600 professionals in its Rolling Meadows, Illinois, corporate headquarters and five U.S.-based manufacturing plants. For further information, please visit www.charlesindustries.com or call (847) 806-6300.

BACK TO THE TOP

Charles Industries Announces Divesture of MULTIPLEXER PRODUCT LINE

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. — February 13, 2008 – Charles Industries Ltd., a privately held, diversified manufacturing and high-technology company today announces that it has sold the assets of its Telecommunications Group’s broadband multiplexer product line to Telco Systems.  Telco Systems has a strong reputation within the multiplexer market and is a company that will continue to advance the multiplexer solutions Charles has developed while continuing the high level of support and service Charles provides.

Under the terms of the sale, Telco Systems immediately assumes ownership of Charles’ multiplexer solutions including the following models; EXchange Mux^®, EXchange Mux^® II, Mini-Mux^™ 210, Mini-Mux^™ 280, Mini-Mux^™ 155, Mini-Mux^™ 840 and Mini-Mux^™ 2000.  Telco Systems also assumes responsibility for all future sales, support, and warranty repair services associated with the multiplexer products identified.

Charles Industries is a recognized leader in providing outside plant (OSP) solutions to communications service providers and channel partners.  “The divestiture of the multiplexer product line will now enable Charles to leverage forty years of core competencies in the outside plant and allow us to focus on our strategic objectives associated with the development, marketing and support of fiber, copper, and access transport solutions for the outside plant” said Bob Novak, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Charles.

Charles is committed to expanding its OSP offering through organic growth, acquisitions and partnerships. The Charles OSP product line currently includes; fiber optic and copper pedestals, enclosures and housings, extended reach copper line conditioners, universal backhaul enclosures as well as several other copper enhancement products.  In addition, Charles will continue to sell and support their extended reach DSL platform, T1 transport, channel bank and voice frequency solutions.

About Charles Industries
Charles Industries, Ltd., is a privately held, diversified manufacturing and technology company servicing telecommunications, marine and industrial markets. The company is ISO 9000 and TL 9000 certified and employs more than 600 professionals in its Rolling Meadows, Illinois, corporate headquarters and five U.S.-based manufacturing plants. For further information, please visit www.charlesindustries.com or call (847) 806-6300.

About Telco Systems
Based in Foxboro, Massachusetts, Telco Systems is a leading provider of carrier-class transport and access solutions for IP and TDM networks for carrier, service provider and enterprise markets. Its suite of products includes solutions for Carrier Ethernet Access rings and demarcation, residential and enterprise VoIP, FTTx, SONET, TDM and T1 backhaul.

Founded in 1972, Telco Systems' focus is to maximize the power of their customers' networks by integrating transport, access and packet technologies onto industry-leading platforms that meet today and tomorrow's network demands.

BACK TO THE TOP

Charles Industries names MINESH PATEL TO VICE PRESIDENT — Broadband access & transmission business unit

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL (September 19, 2006) – Charles Industries, Ltd.  (Charles), a leading provider of network edge innovations for the telecommunications industry, today appointed Minesh Patel as Vice President of its Broadband Access & Transmission (BA&T) Business Unit and a key member of the company’s Senior Management Team.

As Vice President – BA&T Business Unit, Patel is responsible for planning and managing the engineering, manufacturing, sales and marketing activities of Charles’ BA&T Business Unit.  The BA&T Business Unit supplies telecommunications service providers with a diverse line of copper and fiber optic equipment, including: broadband multiplexers, extended-reach DSL systems, intelligent channel banks, T1 mini-repeaters, and span termination systems.

“Minesh Patel brings an impressive résumé of broadband product management experience to Charles Industries,” said Bob Novak, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Charles. “Our Broadband Access & Transmission Business Unit is currently experiencing a revitalized growth trend with the recent addition of new broadband and optical multiplexer lines.  We believe Minesh will be highly successful in guiding the unit’s strategic plans and growing Charles’ business into new markets.”

Patel brings to Charles more than 17 years experience in the telecommunication industry and familiarity with broadband markets, including RBOC, IOC & Wireless customers.  Most recently, he served as Director, Product Management for Westell in Aurora, IL, where he managed their Network Service Access product lines, including DS1 and Optical Transmission Technology.  Prior to Westell, Patel spent 10 years with Marconi Communications in various Senior Product Management and Quality Assurance roles, including Director of Product Management.

Patel is a graduate of the University of Chicago where he earned his MBA in Operations and Business Strategy.  He has also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois. 

About Charles Industries, Ltd.
Charles Industries, Ltd., is a privately held, diversified manufacturing and technology company servicing telecommunications, marine and industrial markets. Founded in 1968, the company is ISO 9000 and TL 9000 certified and employs more than 600 professionals in its Rolling Meadows, Illinois, corporate headquarters and six U.S.-based manufacturing plants. For further information, please visit www.charlesindustries.com or call (847) 806-6300.

BACK TO THE TOP

Charles Industries, Corning Cable Systems Jointly Promote RDUP-accepted Fiber Pedestal Solution

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL and HICKORY, NC (June 5, 2006) –Charles Industries, Ltd. and Corning Cable Systems, part of Corning Incorporated’s (NYSE: GLW) Telecommunications segment, have established a strategic relationship to provide best-in-class Telcordia and RDUP (formerly RUS) accepted fiber pedestal solutions.

As a result of this strategic relationship, Corning Cable Systems will discontinue the manufacture of its RDUP-accepted pedestal line and instead will collaborate with Charles to offer these pedestals to customers. Charles will provide their time-proven pedestal products, while Corning will continue to offer the industry-leading fiber connectivity solutions within the pedestal.

Charles fiber pedestals are optimized for use with Corning Cable Systems fiber management, including OptiSheath^™ Advantage Terminals. The two companies will also work together on current and future pedestal designs to ensure the fiber management is optimized to support Corning fiber terminals. This allows both companies to focus on their core strengths, providing the best value to the customer. Customers will be able to purchase the pedestals through both Corning Cable Systems and Charles.  

“With Charles’ industry-leading pedestal design capabilities and Corning’s industry-leading fiber management knowledge, this relationship is a win-win for carriers using fiber pedestals in their networks,” said Dr. Bernhard Deutsch, director of marketing and market development for Corning Cable Systems public networks.

“Charles’ and Corning’s complementary roles in this strategic relationship provide the industry the best combination of product performance, range of application, customer service and overall value for OSP fiber pedestal solutions,” said Dick Hood, vice president of Charles Industries’ outside plant business unit

Through its Evolant^® Solutions for Access Networks, Corning Cable Systems offers specialized portfolios of innovative products and services that enable customers to cost-effectively deploy fiber in the last mile. For additional information on Corning Cable Systems, contact a customer service representative at 1-800-743-2675, toll free in the United States, or (+1) 828-901-5000, international, or visit www.corning.com/cablesystems.

Charles Industries was the first manufacturer to introduce non-metallic buried distribution pedestals to the telecommunications industry. Charles fiber pedestals offer superior environmental and flood protection of fiber distribution points with the advantage of above-grade, re-enterable access.  For additional information on Charles, contact a customer service representative at 847-806-6300 or visit www.charlesindustries.com.

About Charles Industries, Ltd.
Charles Industries, Ltd., is a privately held, diversified manufacturing and technology company servicing telecommunications, marine and industrial markets. Founded in 1968, the company is ISO 9000 and TL 9000 certified and employs more than 600 professionals in its Rolling Meadows, Illinois, corporate headquarters and six U.S.-based manufacturing plants. For further information, please visit www.charlesindustries.com or call (847) 806-6300.

About Corning Incorporated
Corning Incorporated (www.corning.com) is a diversified technology company that concentrates its efforts on high-impact growth opportunities.  Corning combines its expertise in specialty glass, ceramic materials, polymers and the manipulation of the properties of light, with strong process and manufacturing capabilities to develop, engineer and commercialize significant innovative products for the telecommunications, flat panel display, environmental, semiconductor, and life sciences industries.

BACK TO THE TOP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Charles Industries announces PROMOTION OF DICK HOOD
TO VICE PRESIDENT, Outside Plant Business Unit

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL (April 17, 2006) – Charles Industries, Ltd.  (Charles), a leading provider of network edge innovations for the telecommunications industry, today announced that Dick Hood has been promoted to Vice President – Outside Plant (OSP) Business Unit effective immediately.  Hood has been elevated to the role of Vice President after having demonstrated outstanding leadership abilities as Charles’s Director – OSP Business Unit; a position he has held since March 2004.

As Vice President – OSP Business Unit, Hood is responsible for planning and managing the engineering, manufacturing, sales and marketing activities of Charles’ OSP Business Unit.  The OSP Business Unit supplies communications service providers with a diverse line of copper and fiber optic enclosures, line conditioning devices, repeater housings, load coils and other telecommunications equipment.

“Under Dick’s leadership and direction, our OSP team has responded to the needs of our customers and has enabled Charles to take a leadership position in FTTP enclosure design with our industry leading and RUS-accepted CFDP and BDO fiber distribution pedestals,” said Bob Novak, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Charles. “I am extremely proud of our OSP Business Unit’s accomplishments to date, and the near-future holds many opportunities for the team’s continued growth. At GLOBALCOMM 2006, Dick and his team will introduce AdrenaLine^™, a revolutionary technology able to deliver extended-reach triple play services over legacy copper plant.”

Hood brings more than 30 years experience in the telecommunications industry to his new role.  The vast majority of his experience (1979 – 1996) includes responsibilities as a Product and Marketing Manager, Business Unit Manager and Product Line Group Manager for Raychem Corporation.   Prior to joining Charles, Dick’s primary focus was deployment of telephony over fiber optic communication solutions with FONS Corporation and Alcatel’s Optical Fiber Division.

Hood joined Charles in October 2003 as a Senior OSP Product Manager.  In a very short period, Hood demonstrated the depth and breadth of his Outside Plant expertise and skills, earning him a promotion to Director - OSP Business Unit in March 2004. 

Hood is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics.  He is also a graduate of the Deming Management Method and has attended various workshops at Duke University’s School of Business.  Hood is a resident of Arlington Heights, Illinois.

About Charles Industries, Ltd.
Charles Industries, Ltd., is a privately held, diversified manufacturing and technology company servicing telecommunications, marine and industrial markets. Founded in 1968, the company is ISO 9000 and TL 9000 certified and employs more than 600 professionals in its Rolling Meadows, Illinois, corporate headquarters and six U.S.-based manufacturing plants. For further information, please visit www.charlesindustries.com or call (847) 806-6300.

BACK TO THE TOP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Charles INDUSTRIES TEAMS WITH PHYLOGY TO ADAPT NEW DSL TECHNOLOGY FOR RAPID VIDEO DEPLOYMENT OVER COPPER

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL (NOVEMBER 15, 2005) – Charles Industries, Ltd.^®, a diversified manufacturer and high-technology company, today announced that it has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Silicon Valley–based Phylogy, Inc.^™, inventors of the revolutionary TripleStream^™ Line Conditioner.  Under terms of the agreement, Charles will adapt TripleStream technology into a hardened environmental enclosure, to be released under the brand name AdrenaLine^™ xDSL Conditioner. 

As a leading provider of field-proven environmental enclosures for telecommunications networks, Charles Industries is uniquely qualified to ensure the successful integration of TripleStream technology into a multi-line environmental enclosure that can be deployed in aerial, above-grade, below-grade and buried applications.  The AdrenaLine xDSL Conditioner will feature a temperature-hardened, non-metallic enclosure with a cable stub designed for splicing into existing copper twisted pair cable.

“We are convinced Charles is the right strategic partner to introduce TripleStream technology to the North American telecom market,” said Tim Mueller, President of Phylogy, Inc.  “Charles is a well respected name in the industry; and their design, manufacturing, sales channel, and technical support expertise will undoubtedly prove critical to the successful launch of a product both our companies believe will revolutionize Fiber-to-the-Node deployments.”

Charles’ AdrenaLine xDSL Conditioners will allow service providers to dramatically improve the rate and reach of “Triple Play” DSL services (video, voice and data) over existing copper pairs.  Whereas traditional DSL service has a physical reach limitation of approximately 6kft or less for viable Triple Play service deployment (10Mbps rate), the AdrenaLine xDSL Conditioner will expand the DSL serving area to 12kft and beyond, allowing providers to reach markets that are unserved and underserved today.

In addition to rate and reach benefits, the AdrenaLine xDSL Conditioner will deliver significant cost, labor and time-to-market savings to service providers.  Deployment of the AdrenaLine product requires no changes at the central switching office, no equipment at the subscriber premises, and no local power supply.  A field technician can quickly install the product into existing network lines using techniques familiar to installing a load coil case.  By minimizing the need for fiber optic cable trenching and node placements, the AdrenaLine xDSL Conditioner complements Fiber-to-the-Node (FTTN) network architectures by further reducing labor and material expenses.  Telco service providers benefit from a product that speeds time-to-market service availability, especially in their desire to compete against Cable TV providers for video and broadband Internet subscribers.

Charles is targeting general product availability of the ADSL and ADSL2+ AdrenaLine xDSL Conditioners in Spring 2006.  A VDSL2 version is targeted for Summer 2006.

About Charles Industries
Charles Industries, Ltd., is a privately held, diversified manufacturer and high-technology company. Charles is ISO 9000 and TL 9000 certified, and employs more than 600 individuals in its Rolling Meadows, Illinois, corporate headquarters and five U.S.-based manufacturing plants. Charles designs, manufactures and sells quality, innovative solutions worldwide through its Telecommunications, Marine and Industrial Groups. For more information, please visit http://www.charlesindustries.com or call (847) 806-6300.

About Phylogy, Inc.
Founded in 2003, Phylogy develops and markets advanced communications equipment for telecommunications companies to better compete in the $200 billion “Triple Play” services market of video, voice and data. The company’s introductory product, the TripleStream Line Conditioner, revolutionizes the way telecommunications companies protect current market share and acquire new customers. By utilizing the existing copper-based infrastructure, Phylogy extends rate and reach, enabling broadband delivery performance far beyond conventional methods.  For more information, visit http://www.phylogy.com/ or call 1-866-PHYLOGY.

BACK TO THE TOP

For more information:
Brad Wackerlin
Charles Industries, Ltd.
(847) 258-8458
bwackerl@charlesindustires.com  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Charles INDUSTRIES MATCHES EMPLOYEE DONATIONS TO AMERICAN RED CROSS HURRICANE 2005 RELIEF FUND

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. — September 2, 2005 – In response to the events of the last several days and the massive destruction along the Golf Coast Region by Hurricane Katrina, Charles Industries Ltd., a privately held, diversified manufacturing and high-technology company today announced that the company will match donations made by its employees on a dollar-for-dollar basis made to the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross Hurricane 2005 Relief fund provides food, clothing, shelter and other basic necessities to those in the affected areas.

“The events of the last several days have left tens of thousands of our fellow Americans homeless and without the critical necessities needed to sustain life,” said Joe Charles, president and chief executive officer.  ‘While there are many things we all can do to help this situation, the most urgent need is for monetary contributions to agencies such as the American Red Cross who are best able to efficiently direct relief efforts to those who need it most’.

To donate to the Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund, visit www.redcross.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CHARLES INDUSTRIES, LTD.^® PURCHASES CALIFORNIA-BASED
EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER OASYS TELECOM, INC.^®
Acquisition Strengthens Charles’ Broadband Products Portfolio

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. (January 5, 2004) — Charles Industries, Ltd. announced today it has purchased the assets of Oasys Telecom, Inc., a leading developer of broadband multiplexing and specialty access solutions for communications service providers. The acquisition expands Charles’ capacity to provide end-to-end broadband transmission solutions for copper and fiber applications.

The acquisition agreement became official on December 29, after being favorably voted upon by Oasys Telecom shareholders and approved by the respective board of directors for each company. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“The acquisition of Oasys Telecom’s assets, including its innovative EXchange Mux^® and Mini-Mux lines of high-density broadband multiplexers, is a natural extension of Charles’ access and transmission product lines,” said President and CEO Joseph Charles.  Charles’ current products include channel banks and span termination systems (STS) that allow connections up to T1 rates.  The addition of the Oasys product portfolio uniquely positions Charles to provide complete access and transmission solutions for central office and outside plant applications, ranging from voice and narrowband to broadband electrical and optical.

Oasys Telecom’s technology addresses numerous multiplexing applications with the highest rack density and lowest power consumption in the industry.  The products support a range of technologies for OC-3, STS-1, T3, E1 and T1 transport; with specific features for high reliability, ease of management, and high ROI (return on investment).  They are designed for deployment in the networks of IXCs, ILECs, CLECs, IOCs and enterprise users.

A plan to create a smooth transition for current customers of Oasys’ multiplexer products was put into effect with the signing of the acquisition agreement.  Product development, technical support and regional sales will continue to be provided at the company’s Pleasanton, California facility. All order processing, product management and national sales functions will be transitioned to Charles’ corporate office in Rolling Meadows, Illinois.

“We’ve strived very hard to provide the highest level of customer satisfaction in the past,” said Oasys President and CEO Jerry Miille.  “We are convinced that Charles shares the same high regard for customer service and is more than capable of delivering it. Charles has the capability to leverage Oasys solutions to a broader customer base and meet our vision of expanding the line’s share of the high-density broadband multiplexer market.

About Charles Industries

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL (January 21, 2002) – Charles Industries, Ltd. today announced that it has become the seventh Illinois-based company to be certified compliant and registered to the TL 9000 Release 3.0 Quality Management System Standard.

TL 9000 is the telecommunication industry’s quality system standard that expands the requirements of the International Standards Organization’s ISO 9000 quality management standard in use by industries worldwide. The TL 9000 standard was developed and is administered by the Quality Excellence for Suppliers of Telecommunications (QuEST) Forum. TL 9000 is the world’s first industry-specific standard to define requirements for quality management systems and provide members with a set of performance-based measurements used in determining “best in class” performance rankings for industry products and services.

TL 9000 certification emphasizes a supplier’s commitment to customer satisfaction, continuous improvement, and accountability of performance. Registered members must submit their performance measurements to the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), the metrics administrator contracted by the QuEST forum. UTD then compares the data, determines industry averages and ranks suppliers in such categories as system failures, return rates and delivery problems. The results are made available to members and their customers to promote open discussion of quality issues.

Charles joins such notable names as Motorola, Lucent, Tellabs, Advanced Fibre Communications, General Cable and Complas, Inc. in the list of telecommunication equipment and service providers registered to TL 9000 from the state of Illinois.

Charles’ TL 9000 registration encompasses its corporate headquarters in Rolling Meadows, Illinois and four telecommunication manufacturing facilities (located in Casey, Marshall and Rantoul, Illinois and Canton, Missouri). Registration requires a third-party registrar to confirm implementation of TL 9000 standards and subsequent continued compliance.

Charles’ registration audit was conducted by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), a TL 9000 registrar accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Registrars Accreditation Board (RAB).

“This is a milestone event for Charles Industries,” said Joseph Charles, president and chief executive officer of Charles. “Our internal quality mantra is ‘Customer Satisfaction through Continuous Improvement,’ and TL 9000 registration both lays the groundwork for how we achieve improvement and measure our success.”

“TL 9000 certification has become a requirement of our doing business with several Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOC) such as SBC and Verizon,” said Wes Kimes, Charles’ vice president of sales and marketing. Certification to TL 9000 standards allows Charles to maintain and expand its partnership role in providing innovative Access/ Transmission and Outside Plant products to North America’s leading voice and data services providers.

“Customer satisfaction is a journey,” added Kimes. “Achieving TL 9000 registration was not the destination, but rather the map we’ll use to guide our way.”

BACK TO THE TOP