Technology Research Corporation Licenses First Alert^® Brand Name

CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, August 12, 2003 – Technology Research Corporation (TRC), (NASDAQ:TRCI), announced today a licensing partnership agreement to market electrical safety products under the First Alert^® brand name.

“We’re delighted to acquire the rights to use the well respected First Alert brand name,” said Rick O’Neal, vice president of Fire Shield^® sales and marketing for TRC.  “The Company believes that TRC electrical safety products marketed under the First Alert brand name should enhance our overall ability to penetrate the consumer marketplace.” 

With this agreement, TRC will have the right to offer a range of electrical safety products featuring Fire Shield^®, Shock Shield^® and Electra Shield^® technology to the retail market under the recognized First Alert brand name.  These products are designed to help consumers prevent dangerous electrical fires, shocks and surges.

Mark Colello, senior vice president of sales and marketing at BRK Brands, Inc., adds, “We are always looking for strategic partnerships that allow us to better serve our customers.  Electrical safety is an important concern and TRC brings a commitment to quality products and overall safety that is consistent with the expectations of our customers.”

Since its UL approval in 1996, Fire Shield^® has been implemented in more than a million electrical cords and helps detect cord damage by sensing leakage currents in specially braided monitoring shields.  Unlike standard power cords that cannot shut off power before electrical currents arc and start a fire, Fire Shield^® cords sense pre-arc conditions and automatically disconnect power to help prevent danger.  The technology is used in a variety of applications including extension cords, power surge strips, portable room heaters, and water purifiers.

Shock Shield^® adapters and cord set products incorporate TRC’s Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) technology that provides protection from electrocution, serious injury from electrical shock and can prevent electrical fires.  Applications for Shock Shield portable devices include extension cords, power tools, boat lifts, pressure washers, electric beds, and bathrooms and kitchens in older homes.  OSHA and the National Electrical Code (NEC) mandate the use of GFCI safety products on job sites. 

For more than 25 years, BRK Brands Inc. has been the manufacturer of First Alert^®-branded home-safety products including smoke and fire alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, escape ladders, and security products. First Alert^®-branded products are found in 85 percent of U.S. households and in more than 30 countries worldwide. BRK Brands Inc. is headquartered in Aurora, Ill. For more information, visit www.firstalert.com.

“Safe Harbor” Statement:  Certain statements made in this press release are forward looking in nature and, accordingly, are subject to risks and uncertainties.  The actual results may differ materially from those described or contemplated.

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