JLG INDUSTRIES INC
10-Q, 1998-06-11
CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY & EQUIP
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC  20549
FORM 10-Q



(Mark One)
[X] Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended April 30, 1998

or

[ ]  Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities 


Exchange Act of 1934
For the transition period from                        to                       


Commission file number:  0-8454


JLG INDUSTRIES, INC.
 (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


PENNSYLVANIA

25-1199382

(State or other jurisdiction 
of incorporation or 
organization)

(I.R.S. Employer
 Identification No.)





1 JLG Drive, McConnellsburg, 
PA

17233-9533

(Address of principal 
executive offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(7l7) 485-5161


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports 
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the 
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such 
filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes     X       No ______


At May 19, 1998, there were 44,086,223 shares of capital stock of the 
Registrant outstanding.



PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

JLG INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                                April 30,         July 31,
                                                  1998             1997
(in thousands)                                  (Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current Assets
  Cash                                           $ 25,458         $ 25,436  
  Accounts receivable                              90,055           70,164  
  Inventories                                      59,212           53,727  
  Future income tax benefits                        5,317            4,133  
  Other current assets                              3,193            2,248  
    Total current assets                          183,235          155,708  
Property, Plant and Equipment - net                56,211           56,064  
Equipment Held for Rental - net                    25,151           24,951  
Other Assets                                       16,276           12,669  
                                                 $280,873         $249,392  
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities
  Accounts payable                               $ 41,992         $ 43,027  
  Other current liabilities                        32,231           28,043  
    Total current liabilities                      74,223           71,070  
Long-Term Debt                                      3,513            3,685  
Accrued Contingent Liabilities                      7,807            7,646  
Other Liabilities                                   5,570            5,046  
Shareholders' Equity
  Capital stock:
    Authorized shares: 100,000 at $.20 par
    Outstanding shares: 44,086;
      fiscal 1997 - 43,726                          8,817            8,745  
  Additional paid-in capital                       14,738           11,391  
  Equity adjustment from translation               (3,467)          (2,180)
  Retained earnings                               169,672          143,989  
    Total shareholders' equity                    189,760          161,945  
                                                 $280,873         $249,392  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

JLG INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
                                      Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
                                           April 30,            April 30,
(in thousands, except per share data)  1998       1997       1998       1997
Net Sales                            $146,323   $143,642   $353,674   $385,093  
Cost of sales                         110,369    107,951    271,666    285,703  
Gross Profit                           35,954     35,691     82,008     99,390  
Selling, administrative and
  product development expenses         15,137     14,613     39,612     41,380  
Restructuring charges                                         1,689  
Income from Operations                 20,817     21,078     40,707     58,010  
Other income (deductions):
  Interest expense                        (62)      (183)      (197)      (276)
  Miscellaneous, net                      564       (385)      (597)       187  
Income before Income Taxes             21,319     20,510     39,913     57,921  
Income tax provision                    7,248      7,589     13,570     21,431  
Net Income                          $  14,071   $ 12,921   $ 26,343   $ 36,490  
Earnings per Common Share           $     .32   $    .30   $    .60   $    .84  
Earnings per Common Share --
  Assuming Dilution                 $     .32   $    .29   $    .59   $    .83  
Dividends per Share                 $    .005   $   .005   $   .015   $   .015  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

JLG INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Unaudited)
                                                    Nine Months Ended
                                                        April 30,
(in thousands)                                      1998          1997
Operations
Net income                                        $26,343       $36,490  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash
  provided by (used for) operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization                  12,186         6,591  
    Provision for self-insured losses               3,570         2,100  
    Deferred income taxes                             208           142  
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities   (24,138)      (38,145)
    Changes in other assets and liabilities        (4,285)       (3,224)
Cash provided by operations                        13,884         3,954  

Investments 
Purchases of property, plant and equipment         (7,995)      (16,297)
Net additions to equipment held for rental         (4,700)       (9,871)
Cash used for investments                         (12,695)      (26,168)

Financing
Repayment of long-term debt                          (188)         (159)
Payment of dividends                                 (660)         (654) 
Exercise of stock options                             969         2,960  
Cash provided by financing                            121         2,147  

Currency Adjustments 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash flows      (1,288)          (97) 

Cash
Net increase (decrease) in cash                        22       (20,164) 
Beginning balance                                  25,436        30,438  
Ending balance                                    $25,458      $ 10,274  


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

JLG INDUSTRIES, INC. 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
APRIL 30, 1998
(unaudited)


BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have 
been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for 
interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and 
Article 10 of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they do not include all information 
and notes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete 
financial statements.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments 
(consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair 
presentation have been included.

Interim results for the three and nine months ended April 30, 1998 are not 
necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year 
as a whole. For further information, refer to consolidated financial statements 
and notes thereto included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the 
fiscal year ended July 31, 1997.

INVENTORIES AND COST OF SALES
A precise inventory valuation under the LIFO (last-in, first-out) method can 
only be made at the end of each fiscal year; therefore, interim LIFO inventory 
valuation determinations, including the determination at April 30, 1998, must 
necessarily be based on management's estimate of expected fiscal year-end 
inventory levels and costs. 

Inventories consist of the following:
                                          April 30,              July 31,
                                            1998                   1997
    Finished goods                        $39,987                $33,689  
    Work in process                         9,954                 13,537  
    Raw materials                          14,803                 12,371  
                                           64,744                 59,597  
    Less LIFO provision                     5,532                  5,870  
                                          $59,212                $53,727  

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company is a party to personal injury and property damage litigation 
arising out of incidents involving the use of its products.  The Company's 
insurance program for fiscal year 1998 is comprised of a self-insured retention 
of $5 million and catastrophic coverage of $50 million in excess of the 
retention.  The Company contracts with an independent firm to provide claims 
handling and adjustment services.  The Company's estimates with respect to 
claims are based on internal evaluations of the merits of individual claims and 
the reserves assigned by the Company's independent firm. The methods of making 
such estimates and establishing the resulting accrued liability are reviewed 
frequently, and any adjustments resulting therefrom are reflected in current 
earnings. Claims are paid over varying periods, which generally do not exceed 
five years.  Accrued liabilities for future claims are not discounted.


With respect to all product liability claims of which the Company is aware, 
accrued liabilities of $11.9 million and $9.6 million were established at April 
30, 1998 and July 31, 1997, respectively.  While the Company's ultimate 
liability may exceed or be less than the amounts accrued, the Company believes 
that it is unlikely that it would experience losses that are materially in 
excess of such reserve amounts.  As of April 30, 1998 and July 31, 1997, there 
were no insurance recoverables or offset implications and there were no claims 
by the Company being contested by insurers.

BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
In 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement No. 128, 
"Earnings per Share". Statement 128 replaced the calculation of primary and 
fully diluted earnings per share with basic and diluted earnings per share.  
Unlike primary earnings per share, the calculation of basic earnings per share 
excludes any dilutive effects of options, warrants and convertible securities. 
Diluted earnings per share is very similar to the previously reported fully 
diluted earnings per share.  All earnings per share amounts for all periods 
have been presented and, where appropriate, restated to conform to the 
Statement 128 requirements. 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings 
per share:
                                   Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended
                                       April 30,                April 30,
                                   1998          1997      1998          1997
Net income                       $14,071       $12,921   $26,343       $36,490  
Denominator for basic
 earnings per share --
 weighted average shares          43,687        43,495    43,650        43,428  
Effect of dilutive securities 
 -- employee stock options           707           666       774           727  
Denominator for diluted 
 earnings per share - 
 weighted average shares
 adjusted for dilutive
 securities                       44,394        44,161    44,424        44,155  
Earnings per common share        $   .32       $   .30   $   .60       $   .84  
Earnings per common share --
  assuming dilution              $   .32       $   .29   $   .59       $   .83  

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Results for the Third Quarters of Fiscal 1998 and 1997
The Company achieved record third-quarter sales of $146.3 million, $2.7 
million or 2% higher than last year's third quarter.  This improvement 
reflected record international sales. Sales to customers outside the United 
States were 33% and 27% of total sales for the third quarters of 1998 and 
1997, respectively. Sales from new and redesigned products introduced during 
the past two years represented 40% of sales for the third quarter of 1998 
compared to 51% for the third quarter of 1997.

Gross profit, as a percent of sales, was 25% for the third quarters of 1998 
and 1997.  Margin improvement associated with cost reductions during the 
current year third quarter was essentially offset by lower selling prices due 
to competitive pressures and the strength of the US dollar in certain foreign 
markets.

Selling, administrative and product development expenses were up $524,000, or 
4% compared to the third quarter of fiscal 1997.  As a percent of sales, 
selling, administrative and product development expenses were 10% for both 
periods. The increase in dollars is primarily the result of higher product 
development costs in support of new and improved products.

For the quarter, miscellaneous income was $564,000 compared to last year's 
expense of $385,000. The change from last year's comparable quarter was 
largely the result of currency gains of $590,000, primarily resulting from 
the strength of the UK pound sterling against the US dollar.

The effective tax rate for the quarter was 34%, lower than last year's 37% for 
the comparable period primarily due to increased tax benefits resulting from a 
higher level of international sales.

Results for the First Nine Months of Fiscal 1998 and 1997
Sales for the nine months were $353.7 million, $31.4 million or 8% below last 
year's comparable period.  In terms of dollars, decreases in domestic and 
Pacific Rim sales for the nine months of 1998 compared to 1997 were partially 
offset by increased European and Australian sales.  Sales to customers outside 
the United States were 36% and 29% of total sales for the nine months of 1998 
and 1997, respectively.  Sales from new and redesigned products introduced 
during the past two years represented 43% of sales for the nine months of 1998 
compared to 46% for the 1997 nine months.

Gross profit, as a percent of sales, decreased to 23% for the first nine 
months of 1998 compared to 26% for the same period of 1997. The major 
contributors to this decrease were: product pricing pressures; unfavorable 
currency effects due to the strength of the U.S. dollar; and unfavorable 
product mix weighted towards smaller, less profitable machines. These 
reductions were partially offset by lower product costs due to cost 
reductions.

Selling, administrative and product development expenses were down $1.8 
million or 4% compared to the first nine months of fiscal 1997. As a percent 
of sales, selling, administrative and product development expenses were 11% 
for both periods.  The decrease in dollars is primarily the result of cost 
reduction programs instituted to reduce personnel and related costs and 
consulting costs. Partially offsetting these reductions were higher product 
development costs in support of new and improved products.

The current year period includes $1.7 million in restructuring charges 
principally related to a temporary reduction in workforce earlier in the 
period.  

Miscellaneous expense was $597,000 compared to last year's income of $187,000, 
primarily due to currency losses of $1.2 million resulting from the strength 
of the U.S. dollar against local currencies in the Company's foreign markets.

The effective tax rate for the quarter was 34% compared to last year's 37% for 
the comparable period, primarily due to increased tax benefits resulting from 
a higher level of international sales.

Financial Condition
The Company continues to maintain a strong financial position, funding capital 
projects and working capital needs principally out of operating cash flow and 
cash reserves, while remaining virtually debt-free. Working capital increased 
by $24.4 million principally due to higher receivable balances associated with 
extended payment terms dictated by competitive pressures in the marketplace and 
a higher percent of international sales which typically have longer payment 
terms.
 
Supplementing its working capital at April 30, 1998, the Company had unused 
credit lines totaling $30 million.  The Company considers these resources, 
coupled with cash expected to be generated by operations, adequate to meet 
its anticipated funding needs for the remaining three months of fiscal 1998, 
including $5 million for capital projects and $2 million for additional 
equipment held for rental.

The Company's exposure to product liability claims is discussed in the note 
entitled Commitments and Contingencies of the Notes to Condensed 
Consolidated Financial Statements of this report.  Future results of 
operations, financial condition and liquidity may be affected to the extent 
that the Company's ultimate exposure with respect to product liability 
varies from current estimates.

Outlook
This Outlook section and other parts of this Management's Discussion and 
Analysis contain forward-looking information and involve risks and 
uncertainties that could significantly impact expected results.  Certain 
important factors that in some cases have affected, and in the future could 
affect, the Company's results of operations and that could cause such 
future results of operations to differ are described in "Cautionary 
Statements Pursuant to the Securities Litigation Reform Act", which is an 
exhibit to this report. 

Management anticipates that the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998 should 
continue to reflect an improving trend as a result of strong market 
acceptance of the new products the Company introduced recently.  Management 
is also pleased with the continuing high level of customer confidence which 
is prompting the Company's customers to further expand their rental fleets 
both domestically and overseas.

Provided the numerous positive trends currently affecting the Company's 
business continue, management is optimistic about the Company's prospects 
for further growth during fiscal 1999.  Considering the typical seasonality 
inherent in the Company's business, management does not expect the first 
half of fiscal 1999 to be as strong as the last half of fiscal 1998. 

Year 2000 Issue
The Year 2000 issue is the result of computer programs being written using two 
digits rather than four to define the applicable year.  These programs treat 
years as occurring between 1900 and the end of 1999 and do not self-convert to 
reflect the upcoming change in the century.  If not corrected, computer 
applications could fail or create erroneous results by or at the Year 2000.

The Company has taken actions to understand the nature and extent of the work 
required to make its systems Year 2000 compliant.  Management believes that 
only minor modifications will be required to its software so that its computer 
systems will function properly with respect to dates in the Year 2000 and 
thereafter. If not corrected, management does not believe the inadequacy of 
these systems would have a material impact on the Company's performance.  The 
total cost of the Year 2000 project is not expected to have a material effect 
on the Company's results of operations and is being funded through operating 
cash flows. The Company has determined that it has no exposure to contingencies 
related to the Year 2000 issue for products it has sold.

The Company has also initiated formal communications with its significant 
suppliers and large customers to determine the extent to which the Company is 
vulnerable to those third-parties' failures to remediate their own Year 2000 
issues. The Company anticipates completing its Year 2000 project prior to 
December 31, 1998, which is prior to any anticipated impact on its operating 
systems.   

The costs of the Company's efforts and the date on which the Company 
believes it will complete the Year 2000 compliance efforts reflect 
management's current estimates based on available information. Management 
will continue to monitor this issue, particularly the possible impact of 
third-party Year 2000 compliance on the Company's operations, and will 
modify its estimates if warranted.

Ernst & Young LLP
Independent Accountants' Review Report

The Board of Directors
JLG Industries, Inc.
McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania

We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of JLG 
Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries as of April 30, 1998, and the related 
condensed consolidated statements of income for the three-month and nine-month 
periods ended April 30, 1998 and 1997 and the condensed consolidated statement 
of cash flows for the nine month periods ended April 30, 1998 and 1997.  These 
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management.

We conducted our reviews in accordance with standards established by the 
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.  A review of interim 
financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures to 
financial data, and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and 
accounting matters.  It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted 
in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, which will be 
performed for the full year with the objective of expressing an opinion 
regarding the financial statements taken as a whole.  Accordingly, we do not 
express such an opinion.

Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that 
should be made to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements 
referred to above for them to be in conformity with generally accepted 
accounting principles.

We have previously audited, in accordance with generally accepted auditing 
standards, the consolidated balance sheet of JLG Industries, Inc. as of July 
31, 1997, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders' 
equity and cash flows for the year then ended, not presented herein, and in our 
report dated September 4, 1997, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those 
consolidated financial statements.  In our opinion, the information set forth 
in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of July 31, 1997, 
is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated 
balance sheet from which it has been derived.

/s/Ernst & Young LLP
Baltimore, Maryland 
May 18, 1998


                       PART II OTHER INFORMATION


ITEMS 1 - 5

None/not applicable.

ITEM 6 -- EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a)  The following exhibits are included herein:

	15	Letter re:  Unaudited Interim Financial Information

	27	Financial Data Schedule

	99	Cautionary Statements Pursuant to the Securities Litigation 	
		Reform Act

(b)  The Company was not required to file Form 8-K pursuant to 
requirements of such form for any of the three months ended April 30, 
1998.

	SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the 
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the 
undersigned thereunto duly authorized who is also signing in his capacity as 
principal financial officer.


JLG INDUSTRIES, INC.

(Registrant)


/s/ Charles H. Diller, Jr.

Charles H. Diller, Jr.

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer



EXHIBIT 15

The Board of Directors
JLG Industries, Inc.
McConnellsburg, PA 17233

We are aware of the incorporation by reference in the Registration 
Statements Form S-8, No. 33-60366; Form S-8, No. 33-61333; Form S-8, No. 33-
75746; and Form S-3, No. 333-47487 of JLG Industries, Inc. of our report 
dated May 18, 1998, relating to the unaudited condensed consolidated interim 
financial statements of JLG Industries, Inc. which are included in its Form 
10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 1998.

Pursuant to Rule 436(c) of the Securities Act of 1933 our report is not a part 
of the registration statement prepared or certified by accountants within the 
meaning of Section 7 or 11 of the Securities Act of 1933.


/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Baltimore, Maryland
May 18, 1998


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>          5
<MULTIPLIER>       1000
       
<S>                            <C>             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  3-MOS           9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>              JUL-31-1998     JUL-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                   APR-30-1998     APR-30-1998
<CASH>                               25458           25458
<SECURITIES>                             0               0
<RECEIVABLES>                        91622           91622
<ALLOWANCES>                          1567            1567
<INVENTORY>                          59212           59212
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                    183235          183235
<PP&E>                               91515           91514
<DEPRECIATION>                       35303           35303
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                      280873          280873
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                74223           74223
<BONDS>                                  0               0
<COMMON>                              8817            8817
                    0               0
                              0               0
<OTHER-SE>                          180943          180943
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>        280873          280873
<SALES>                             146323          353674
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                    146323          353674
<CGS>                               110369          271666
<TOTAL-COSTS>                       125506          312967
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                      (564)            597
<LOSS-PROVISION>                         0               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                      62             197
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      21319           39913
<INCOME-TAX>                          7248           13570
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                  14071           26343
<DISCONTINUED>                           0               0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                          0               0
<CHANGES>                                0               0
<NET-INCOME>                         14071           26343
<EPS-PRIMARY>                          .32             .60
<EPS-DILUTED>                          .32             .59
        

</TABLE>



EXHIBIT 99 

Cautionary Statements Pursuant to the Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995


The Company wishes to inform its investors of the following important factors 
that in some cases have affected, and in the future could affect, the 
Company's results of operations and that could cause such future results of 
operations to differ materially from those expressed in any forward looking 
statements made by or on behalf of the Company. Disclosure of these factors is 
intended to permit the Company to take advantage of the "safe harbor" 
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Many of 
these factors have been discussed in prior SEC filings by the Company.  Though 
the Company has attempted to list comprehensively these important cautionary 
factors, the Company wishes to caution investors that other factors may in the 
future prove to be important in affecting the Company's results of operations.

Cyclical Demand -- Demand for new equipment manufactured by the Company tends 
to be cyclical, responding historically to varying levels of construction and 
industrial activity, principally in the United States and, to a lesser extent, 
in other industrialized nations.  Other factors affecting demand include the 
availability and cost of financing for equipment purchases and the market 
availability of used equipment.  Company management regularly monitors these 
and other factors that affect demand for the Company's equipment. However, 
predicting levels of demand beyond a short term is necessarily imprecise and 
demand may at times change dramatically.

Consolidating Customers Base; Rental Companies -- The principal customers for 
the Company's new equipment are independent equipment rental companies that 
rent the Company's products and provide service support to equipment users. In 
recent years, growth in sales to equipment rental companies has outpaced 
growth in direct sales to end-users, resulting in equipment rental companies 
comprising a larger share of total sales.  At the same time, there has been 
substantial consolidation in ownership among rental companies, resulting in a 
more limited number of major customers comprising a substantial portion of 
total sales.  A change in purchasing decisions by any of these major customers 
could materially affect overall demand for the Company's products and the 
Company's financial performance.  More generally, during recessionary 
conditions, demand for equipment by equipment rental companies typically 
declines more sharply than demand for equipment purchased by end-users.

Manufacturing Capacity -- Given the cyclical nature of demand, the Company 
must periodically expand and contract its manufacturing facilities. Capital 
investment to acquire additional manufacturing facilities involves significant 
risks.  Excess manufacturing capacity adversely affects profitability because 
higher fixed costs are spread over a lower sales volume. Insufficient capacity 
adversely affects profitability as long lead-times required to fill customer 
orders may impair the Company's ability to compete for new business and 
subcontracting costs incurred to increase capacity affect profitability.  

Product Liability -- Use of the Company's products involves risks of personal 
injury and property damage and liability exposure for the Company. The Company 
insures against this liability through a combination of a self-insurance 
retention and catastrophic insurance coverage in excess of the retention. The 
Company monitors all incidents of which it becomes aware involving the use of 
its products that result in personal injury or property damage and establishes 
accrued liability reserves on its financial statements based on liability 
estimates with respect to claims arising from such incidents. Future or 
unreported incidents involving personal injury or property damage or 
unanticipated variances between actual liabilities for known incidents and 
Company estimates may adversely affect the Company's financial performance.

Availability of Product Components -- The Company obtains raw materials and 
certain manufactured components from third-party suppliers.  To reduce 
material costs and inventories, the Company relies on supplier partnership 
arrangements with preferred vendors as a sole source for "just-in-time" 
delivery of many raw materials and manufactured components.  Because the 
Company maintains limited raw material inventories, even brief unanticipated 
delays in delivery by suppliers, including those due to labor disputes, 
impaired financial condition of suppliers, weather emergencies or other 
natural disasters, may adversely affect the Company's ability to satisfy its 
customers on a timely basis and thereby affect the Company's financial 
performance.

Foreign Sales; Currency Risks -- A growing component of the Company's business 
has been export sales to Europe, Latin America and Asia.  Maintenance and 
continued growth of this segment of the Company's business may be affected by 
changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies, laws and regulations of the 
United States and other trading nations and by foreign currency exchange rate 
fluctuations and the ability or inability of the Company to hedge against 
exchange rate risks.

Competition; Continued Innovation -- The Company faces substantial competition 
in the market for its products and some of the Company's competitors are, or 
in the future may be, owned by larger enterprises that may have greater 
financial resources and offer wider product lines than the Company. Product 
line expansion by existing competitors and potential entry by new competitors 
also may affect the Company's market position.  Throughout its history, the 
Company has devoted substantial resources to product development and has 
generally succeeded in being a market leader in introducing new high-reach 
products or incorporating new features and functions into existing products. 
The Company also holds certain patents which it believes are valuable. 
Successful product innovation by competitors that reach the market prior to 
comparable innovation by the Company or that are amenable to patent protection 
may adversely affect the Company's financial performance.

Mergers and Acquisitions -- The Company intends to pursue strategic 
acquisitions as a means of increasing sales and earnings and promoting 
shareholder value.  Acquisitions generally may involve a number of risks that 
may affect the Company's financial performance including increased leverage, 
diversion of management resources, possible shareholder dilution, assumption 
of liabilities of acquired businesses and corporate culture conflicts.  In 
addition, specific acquisitions may involve other risks unique to the acquired 
business. Finally there is no assurance that the Company will be able to 
conclude satisfactory agreements to acquire any businesses as a means to 
increase sales and earnings.

Unanticipated Litigation -- The Company occasionally has faced unanticipated 
intellectual property and shareholder litigation which has involved 
significant unbudgeted expenditures.  The costs and other effects of any 
future, unanticipated legal or administrative proceedings may be significant.

Dependence Upon Key Personnel -- The Company believes that it has developed a 
strong management team, which intends to continue the Company's growth and 
profitability.  However, the loss or unavailability of certain key management 
personnel, principally L. David Black, the Company's Chairman of the Board, 
President and Chief Executive Officer, could adversely affect the Company's 
business and prospects.



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