New Brunswick Scientific Co., Inc., Reports Sharply Improved Second-Quarter and First-Half 2004 Financial Results

New Brunswick Scientific Co., Inc., Reports Sharply Improved
Second-Quarter and First-Half 2004 Financial Results 


EDISON, N.J., July 30  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- New Brunswick Scientific Co.,
Inc. (NBS) (NASDAQ:NBSC), today announced sharply improved financial results
for the 2004 second quarter and first six months ended July 3, 2004, versus
2003.

Net sales for the second quarter of 2004 increased 38.7% to $14.9 million,
compared with last year's second-quarter sales of $10.7 million. RS Biotech,
which was acquired in November 2003, contributed $1.3 million in sales during
the period. Second-quarter net income improved significantly to $296,000, or
$0.03 per diluted share, versus a net loss of $1,195,000, or $0.14 per share,
in 2003's comparable period.

First-half 2004 net sales rose to $29.5 million from $22.3 million for the 2003
six-month period-an increase of 32.2%. The previously mentioned acquisition of
RS Biotech increased sales during the first half by $2.4 million. Net income
improved significantly during the 2004 first half, reaching $604,000, or $0.07
per diluted share. This compares with the 2003 first-half net loss of
$1,627,000, or $0.19 per share, which included a pretax gain of $201,000 on the
sale of property.

Gross margin expanded markedly during both the 2004 three- and six-month
periods due primarily to the effect of increased absorption of manufacturing
overhead due to significantly increased manufacturing activity as a result of
higher sales volumes. Gross margin for the second quarter of 2004 was 40.4%, up
from 32.1% in 2003's comparable quarter. For the 2004 first half, gross margin
was 40.5% versus 34.2% in last year's first six months.

Co-founder and Chairman David Freedman said: "Order levels continue to hold up
well, reflecting strength in the capital expenditure budgets of pharmaceutical
and biotechnology companies as well as good end-market demand for life
science-enabling tools. Sales to international customers were particularly
strong in the most recent quarter. During the first half of this year, order
intake increased 39% versus last year's first six months. Backlog at quarter
end stood at $9.7 million, 59% higher than a year ago.

"Our cost-reduction efforts continue to yield tangible results," Freedman
added. "SG&A as a percent of sales improved from 36.5% in last year's first
half to 29.5% in this year's first six months. Excluding the effect of foreign
exchange translation and the operating expenses of RS Biotech, our SG&A
expenses during the first half of this year actually decreased $136,000 versus
last year, despite the higher sales level.

"Market conditions in the life science industry remain solid, as indicated by
our healthy backlog and ongoing strong order rate, boding well for the balance
of the year. Long term, we are encouraged by the positive trend for R&D budgets
in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, customers who have long recognized
NBS' state-of-the-art tools as a means of helping them remain competitive by
increasing precision, automation and their pace of discovery. Given these
factors, we anticipate reporting significant improvement in financial results
versus 2003."

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  About New Brunswick Scientific


New Brunswick Scientific Co., Inc., is a leading global provider of a
comprehensive line of research equipment and scientific instrumentation for use
in the life science industry. The company's products are used in the creation,
maintenance and control of physical and biochemical environments required for
the growth, detection and storage of microorganisms for medical, biological and
chemical applications, as well as environmental research and commercial product
development. NBS is a forerunner in the research and development of pioneering
equipment to meet the challenges of new areas of advancement in life science.
Established in 1946, New Brunswick Scientific is headquartered in Edison, New
Jersey, with sales and distribution facilities strategically located in the
United States, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit
http://www.nbsc.com/ .

This press release includes statements that may constitute forward-looking
statements made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provision of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This information may involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the
forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations
reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable
assumptions, such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Further
information concerning risk factors is described in the Company's Securities
and Exchange Commission filings.

           NEW BRUNSWICK SCIENTIFIC CO., INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                 (In thousands, except per-share amounts)
                               (Unaudited)

                          Three Months Ended         Six Months Ended
                          July 3,     June 28,     July 3,      June 28,
                            2004        2003         2004         2003

  Net sales              $14,905      $10,747      $29,527      $22,332

  Operating costs and
   expenses:
    Cost of sales          8,883        7,292       17,574       14,684
    Selling, general and
     administrative
     expenses              4,431        4,045        8,703        8,149
    Research, development
     and engineering
     expenses                973          894        1,876        1,751

    Total operating costs
     and expenses         14,287       12,231       28,153       24,584

  Income (loss) from
   operations                618       (1,484)       1,374       (2,252)

  Other income (expense):
   Interest income            17           19           35           37
   Interest expense         (170)        (106)        (335)        (220)
   Other, net                 (5)         (14)         (69)         130
                            (158)        (101)        (369)         (53)

  Income (loss) before
   income tax expense
   (benefit)                 460       (1,585)       1,005       (2,305)
  Income tax expense
   (benefit)                 164         (390)         401         (678)
  Net income (loss)         $296     $ (1,195)        $604      $(1,627)

  Basic net income (loss)
   per share               $0.03       $(0.14)       $0.07       $(0.19)
  Diluted net income (loss)
   per share               $0.03       $(0.14)       $0.07       $(0.19)

  Basic weighted average
   number of shares
   outstanding
                           8,714        8,576        8,681        8,573
  Diluted weighted average
   number of shares
   outstanding             8,882        8,576        8,837        8,573


                SELECTED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET ITEMS
                          (Dollars in thousands)
                               (Unaudited)

                                                    July 3,     December 31,
                                                     2004           2003
  Cash and cash equivalents                       $ 10,117       $ 10,536
  Accounts receivable, net                           9,719         10,012
  Inventories                                       13,875         12,304
  Property, plant and equipment, net                 6,180          6,478
  Total assets                                      52,355         51,321
  Accounts payable and accrued expenses              7,374          7,260
  Long-term debt, net of current installments        7,273          7,675
  Shareholders' equity                              33,332         31,859
  Working capital                                   26,166         25,279
  Current ratio                                   3.9 to 1       3.8 to 1


DATASOURCE: New Brunswick Scientific Co., Inc.



CONTACT:  Samuel Eichenbaum, Vice President, Finance and Treasurer of New

Brunswick Scientific Co., Inc., [phone], or ; or Matthew

J. Dennis, CFA, NBS Investor Relations of Clear Perspective Group, LLC,

[phone], or , for New Brunswick Scientific Co.,

Inc.



Web site:  http://www.nbsc.com/

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