NEW ORLEANS (April 23, 2002) –Fargo Electronics, Inc. (Nasdaq: FRGO) today introduced the Fargo Professional Series CardJet™ 410 Printer/Encoder– the first dedicated plastic card personalization system that uses Fargo’s new CardJet Printing Technology™ – at the CardTech/SecurTech Conference and Exhibition here. Fargo will be exhibiting four new printers, including the CardJet 410, at Booth 1001 in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Fargo card printer/encoders create personalized plastic identification cards complete with digital images and text, lamination, and electronically encoded information.

“With the introduction today of this innovative technology, Fargo is changing the face of card printing,” said Gary R. Holland, President and CEO of Fargo. “Inkjet printers are rugged, durable, and widely used. Our introduction of thermal inkjet printing for ID cards opens the door to thousands of companies and organizations, which previously could not afford a dedicated ID card printer/encoder.

“With a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $2,495.00, the CardJet 410 is very competitive with old-fashioned ‘cut and paste’ analog photo-based ID badge systems, particularly when time, labor, and card costs are accounted for,” Holland said. “Features such as convenience, ease of use, virtually no maintenance, cost of supplies, and the professional appearance of the ID badges will make the CardJet 410 a clear winner with end users.”

“The Fargo CardJet 410 Printer/Encoder uses the familiar ‘open cover, snap out, snap in’ process to replace the SmartLoad™ Ink Cartridges,” said Kathleen Phillips, Fargo’s Vice President – Marketing. “Loading the special CardJet cards is just as easy: the SmartLoad™ Card Cartridge is loaded from the top of the printer, then clicks into place. Both SmartLoad ink and card cartridges are designed for error-free, one-way-only loading.

“A special radio frequency identification (RFID) tag on each SmartLoad ink cartridge and a “smart chip” on the base of the SmartLoad card cartridge communicate with the CardJet 410 CardJet printer/encoder, as well as the customer’s personal computer. The tags and chip automatically track card printing, and warn the operator when either card or ink supplies are low,” Phillips notes. “If the ink or card cartridges are removed, the tags and chip each ‘remember’ the precise count and resume at that number when replaced in the printer.”

Initially, the CardJet 410 will be offered with a SmartLoad 100-card cartridge, a SmartLoad 900-card black ink cartridge, and a SmartLoad 300-card color ink cartridge. No alignment or calibration of the ink cartridges is necessary when the cartridges are replaced.

The CardJet 410 offers an optional magnetic-stripe (high-coercivity only) encoding unit, which can be factory installed or upgraded in the field by either a technical end user or Fargo Solution Provider (FSP).

“Our target market – companies, schools, government and other organizations that typically print smaller volumes of cards per year – want card printers that are easy to learn, simple to operate, and require virtually no maintenance,” said Phillips. “The CardJet 410 operator can change ink and card cartridges in a matter of seconds, then resume printing, easily and error-free.”

As the world’s leading innovator in card personalization systems, Fargo worked closely with Hewlett-Packard Company’s (NYSE:HWP) Specialty Printing Systems (SPS) Operation, which is selling HP’s thermal inkjet technology to Fargo on an OEM basis, and PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG), which developed the Teslin sheet-based cards used by the CardJet 410.

Fargo CardJet 410 Printer/Encoder Features

– Fargo CardJet Printing Technology and an HP inkjet print engine ensure virtually maintenance-free reliability.
– Top-loading SmartLoad Card Cartridge eliminates hassles with 100 pre-loaded cards.
– CardJet Printing Technology delivers full color, durable cards in as fast as 22 seconds.
– 600 dpi for full-color images, razor-sharp text, and easy-to-scan barcodes.
– Specially formulated CardJet ink bonds instantly and won’t smear.
– Snap in SmartLoad Ink Cartridges.
– Over-the-edge printing creates a high-quality, professional appearance.
– Abrasion-resistant non-glare CardJet Cards are ideally suited for applications that require repetitive swiping such as access control, meal plans, or time cards.
– Intuitive LED lights and on-screen status message signals when to change cards or ink.
– Transparent access window allows for viewable printing and easy changing of CardJet consumables.
– Optional magnetic stripe encoding station provides cards with functionality and security.
– Hopper access door conveniently flips up when printer is not in use.
– One year printer warranty.

Print Mode Speed* Print Quality
Fast 22 Seconds Good
Normal 40 Seconds Very Good
Best 67 Seconds Excellent

*Print speed will vary depending on the amount of color coverage within a card design. The above print speeds represent a full-color, full-bleed design; designs with less color coverage will print faster. Print speed indicates an approximate batch print speed and is measured from the time a card feeds into the printer to the time it ejects from the printer. Print speeds do not include encoding time or the time needed for the PC to process the image. Process time is dependent on the size of the file, the CPU, amount of RAM and the amount of available resources at the time of the print.

Under the theme, “Securing the 21st Century: Technology for an Uncertain World,” CardTech/SecurTech focuses on the marketing, business, and technical aspects of successfully deploying card, identification, and security technologies. The CTST Annual Conference and Exhibition draws over 8,500 attendees, with approximately 350 companies exhibiting.

About Fargo
Fargo Electronics, Inc. (Nasdaq: FRGO) is the world’s leader in innovative technologies for desktop plastic card personalization systems. Based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Fargo creates printing systems that personalize plastic identification cards, complete with digital images and text, lamination, and electronically encoded information. Personalized identification cards provide physical, information and transaction security for a wide variety of applications including retail stores, e-commerce, government installations, schools, sports and recreation facilities, clubs and associations, and correctional facilities. More than 60,000 Fargo systems are currently installed throughout the U.S. and in over 100 other countries.

Forward-looking Statements
Statements made in this release concerning the company’s expectations about future results or events are “forward-looking statements.” Such statements are subject to the safe harbor created by the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995, and are necessarily subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements. These risks include: product acceptance and customer demand for Fargo’s card personalization systems and proprietary supplies; actions taken and alternative products marketed by Fargo’s competitors; supplier relationships; domestic and international regulations and standards; adverse economic and business conditions, including conditions resulting from the terrorist attack on the U.S. on September 11, 2001 and the resulting hostilities; and adverse changes in the Company’s business as a result of the announcement of the now terminated acquisition of the Company by Zebra Technologies Corporation. For more detail, see the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2001.

About PPG
Pittsburgh-based PPG (NYSE: PPG) is a leading global supplier of specialty and industrial chemicals in addition to coatings, fiber glass and glass. With 2001 sales of $8.2 billion, PPG has 120 manufacturing facilities and equity affiliates in 24 countries. Teslin® is a trademark of PPG Industries, Inc. For more information: http://www.ppg.com or http://www.teslin.com .