EWI Technical Excellence Award Winner Announced

Greg Firestone Receives Annual Award for Technical Achievement

COLUMBUS, OhioApril 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- EWI has announced the winner
of its second annual Technical Excellence Award, an award that recognizes
exceptional technical achievements by EWI associates. Peer nominations were
made for EWI associates who demonstrated technical leadership and drove
significant impact for one or more of the company's clients. The annual
recipient is selected by EWI's Board of Directors.

Ten nominations were made for the 2009 award, which included advancements in
joining processes, development of joining for specific materials and
applications, application of new inspection technologies, and development of
advanced welder training technology.

This year's winner is Greg Firestone, Applications Engineer in EWI's Design,
Controls, and Automation group. Greg is recognized for his work in resistance
butt welding as part of a complex component. His work provides a unique
competitive advantage and significant growth potential for the client company.
While specific details of the application remain confidential, his work
involved innovative tooling concepts combined with welding process controls to
achieve high performance welds in parts having varying cross sections. Greg
receives a $1,000 cash prize, and $10,000 of internal research development
funding to pursue the research project of his choice. EWI congratulates Greg
Firestone for his achievement.

About EWI
Based in Columbus, Ohio, EWI is North America's leading engineering and
technology organization dedicated to welding and materials joining. EWI's
staff provides materials joining assistance, contract research, consulting
services, and training to over 3,300 member company locations representing
world-class leaders in the aerospace, automotive, defense, energy, government,
heavy manufacturing, alternative energy, medical, and electronics industries.
For more information, please visit www.ewi.org.

SOURCE EWI

Lisa Austin, Manager, Corporate Communications, +1-614-688-5130,
laustin@ewi.org