MEDAR INC
DEF 14A, 1997-04-16
INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASUREMENT, DISPLAY, AND CONTROL
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<PAGE>   1
                                 SCHEDULE 14A
                                (Rule 14a-101)

                   INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

                           SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
         PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
                    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO.  )
                 
 
    Filed by the registrant [X]

    Filed by a party other than the registrant [ ]

    Check the appropriate box:

    [ ] Preliminary proxy statement    [ ] Confidential, for Use of the 
                                           Commission Only (as permitted by
                                           Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
    [X] Definitive proxy statement

    [ ] Definitive additional materials

    [ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12

                                 Medar, Inc.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)


Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):

    [X] No fee required.

    [ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

    (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed 
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing 
fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (5) Total fee paid:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    [ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    [ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act 
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was 
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement 
number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.

    (1) Amount previously paid:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) Form, schedule or registration statement no.:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (3) Filing party:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (4) Date filed:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>   2
 
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
 
To the Shareholders of Medar, Inc.:
 
     Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Medar,
Inc., a Michigan corporation, will be held at the corporate offices, 38700 Grand
River Avenue, Farmington Hills, Michigan 48335, on Wednesday, May 28, 1997, at
4:00 p.m. local time for the following purposes, all of which are more
completely set forth in the accompanying proxy statement.
 
     1. To elect seven Directors; and
 
     2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
 
     In accordance with the Bylaws of the Company and a resolution of the Board
of Directors, the record date for the meeting has been fixed at April 3, 1997.
Only Shareholders of record at the close of business on that date will be
entitled to vote at the meeting.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                          Max A. Coon
                                          Secretary
 
Farmington Hills, Michigan
April 23, 1997
 
                             YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
 
YOU ARE URGED TO DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY FORM, INDICATE YOUR CHOICE
WITH RESPECT TO THE MATTERS TO BE VOTED UPON, AND PROMPTLY RETURN YOUR PROXY SO
THAT YOUR SHARES MAY BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR WISHES AND IN ORDER THAT
THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM MAY BE ASSURED. THE PROMPT RETURN OF YOUR SIGNED PROXY,
REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES YOU HOLD, WILL AID THE COMPANY IN REDUCING
THE EXPENSE OF ADDITIONAL PROXY SOLICITATION. THE GIVING OF SUCH PROXY DOES NOT
AFFECT YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE IN PERSON IN THE EVENT YOU ATTEND THE MEETING.
<PAGE>   3
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
 
     This statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies
on behalf of the Board of Directors of Medar, Inc. (the Company) for use at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held on May 28, 1997 at 4:00
p.m., or any adjournments thereof. This Proxy Statement is being mailed on or
about April 23, 1997 to all holders of record of common stock of the Company as
of the close of business on April 3, 1997.
 
                             PURPOSE OF THE MEETING
 
     The purpose of this Annual Meeting of Shareholders shall be to elect
Directors and to transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting.
 
                                     VOTING
 
     Common Stock with no par value is the only voting stock of the Company.
Holders of record at the close of business on April 3, 1997 are entitled to one
(1) vote for each share held. As of April 3, 1997, the Company had 8,852,401
shares outstanding. Holders of stock entitled to vote at the meeting do not have
cumulative voting rights with respect to the election of Directors.
 
     All shares represented by proxies shall be voted "FOR" each of the matters
recommended by management unless the Shareholder, or his duly authorized
representative, specifies otherwise or unless the proxy is revoked. Any
Shareholder who executes the proxy referred to in this statement may revoke it
before it is exercised, provided written notice of such revocation is received
at the office of the Company in Farmington Hills, Michigan at least twenty-four
(24) hours before the commencement of the meeting, or provided the grantor of
the proxy is present at the meeting and, having been recognized by the presiding
officer, announces such revocation in open meeting. All Shareholders are
encouraged to date and sign the enclosed proxy form, indicate your choice with
respect to the matters to be voted upon and return it to the Company.
 
     In elections of directors where the number of nominees is equal to the
number of positions to be filled, the vote required to elect each director is
equal to the majority of the votes cast in such election. Actions other than
elections of directors are also authorized by a majority of the votes cast.
Although state law and the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Company
are silent on the issue, it is the intent of the Company that proxies received
which contain abstentions or broker non-votes as to any matter will be included
in the calculations as to the presence of a quorum, but will not be counted as
votes cast in such matter in the calculation as to the needed majority vote.
 
                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
     It is the intention of the persons named in the proxy to vote for election
of the following nominees to the Board of Directors to hold office until the
next Annual Meeting or until their successors are elected. In the event any
nominee should be unavailable, which is not anticipated, the shares may, in the
discretion of the proxy holders, be voted for the election of such persons as
the Board of Directors may submit. Directors are elected for a term of one (1)
year and until their successors are elected and qualified. Proxies will be voted
only to the extent of the number of nominees named.
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   4
 
     The following information is furnished concerning the nominees, all of whom
have been nominated by the Board of Directors and are presently Directors of the
Company.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             SERVED AS
                                             PRESENT POSITION WITH THE                       DIRECTOR
            NAME                         COMPANY AND PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION              AGE     SINCE
            ----                         --------------------------------              ---   ---------
<S>                           <C>                                                      <C>   <C>
Max A. Coon.................  Secretary and Vice Chairman of the Board of Medar,       62      1978
                              Inc.; President and Chairman of the Board of Maxco,
                              Inc.
Richard R. Current..........  Executive Vice President, Finance and Operations of      52      1996
                              Medar, Inc.
Charles J. Drake............  President and Chairman of the Board of Medar, Inc.       56      1978
Stephan Sharf...............  President of SICA Corp, a Michigan based automotive      76      1986
                              industry consulting firm
Vincent Shunsky.............  Treasurer of Medar, Inc.; Director, Treasurer and Vice   48      1978
                              President of Finance of Maxco, Inc.
William B. Wallace..........  Senior Managing Director of Equity Partners, Ltd., a     52      1990
                              Troy, Michigan based private investment banking firm
Stephen R. Zynda............  General Counsel of Midwest Bridge Company, a             45      1993
                              Williamston, Michigan based bridge and road building
                              contractor
</TABLE>
 
     All of the foregoing Directors and nominees have been engaged in the
principal occupation specified for the previous five years with the exception of
the following:
 
     Richard R. Current joined the Company in May 1995 as its Vice President of
Finance. In March 1996, Mr. Current was promoted to the position of Executive
Vice President, Finance and Operations and was also named a Director of the
Company. Prior to joining Medar, Mr. Current was managing partner of Ernst &
Young's Lansing, Michigan practice from 1985 to 1992 and was the Chief Financial
Officer of The Shane Group, Inc., a Hillsdale, Michigan holding company with
ownership of a number of manufacturing and distribution subsidiaries, from 1992
to 1995.
 
     Messrs. Coon, Drake and Shunsky are also Directors of Maxco, Inc., and Mr.
Coon is additionally a director of Spartan Motors, Inc., each of whose stocks
are traded over-the-counter.
 
     The Board of Directors has established a Compensation Committee whose
members are Max A. Coon and Vincent Shunsky. The Compensation Committee is
responsible for establishing compensation for the President, approving executive
compensation levels of all other executives and authorizing the levels and
timing of bonus payments. In addition, this committee is responsible for
administering the Company's Stock Option Plans, including designating the
recipients and terms of specific option grants. The Compensation Committee met
two times during the period ended December 31, 1996 to grant options on 131,900
shares and to establish compensation criteria and levels. The Audit Committee,
whose members are William B. Wallace, Charles J. Drake and Stephan Sharf, met
two times in 1996. The Audit Committee is responsible for discussing the scope
and timing of independent audit work, selecting independent auditors, discussing
problems and experience in completing audit work, reviewing audited financial
statements, discussing findings and recommendations of independent auditors,
monitoring the system of internal control and overseeing conflict of interest
and related party transaction policies. The Company does not have a standing
nominating committee.
 
     During the period ended December 31, 1996, there were a total of eight
meetings of the Board of Directors. None of the above nominees attended fewer
than 75% of the meetings held during the period.
 
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
 
     Directors who are not officers of the Company receive $200 for each meeting
attended. In addition, Messrs. Sharf and Wallace each have consulting agreements
with the Company pursuant to which they have agreed to provide consulting
services to the Company for so long as they hold office as directors. The
Company paid both Mr. Sharf and Mr. Wallace $9,600 for such consulting services
during the fiscal year.
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   5
 
                               EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
     The following table sets forth information concerning the Executive
Officers of the Company.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             PRESENT POSITION WITH THE                        SERVED AS
             NAME                         COMPANY AND PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION            AGE   OFFICER SINCE
             ----                         --------------------------------            ---   -------------
<S>                              <C>                                                  <C>   <C>
Charles J. Drake...............  President and Chairman of the Board of Medar, Inc.   56        1978
Michael J. Charchol............  Vice President, Vision Products of Medar, Inc.       55        1996
Richard R. Current.............  Executive Vice President, Finance and Operations     52        1995
                                 and Director of Medar, Inc.
Mark R. Doede..................  Vice President and Chief Operating Officer,          39        1989
                                 Welding Products of Medar, Inc.
Lyle D. Harbin.................  Vice President of Marketing, Welding Products of     63        1985
                                 Medar, Inc.
Arthur D. Harmala..............  Vice President of Marketing, Vision Products of      53        1995
                                 Medar, Inc.
George R. Mather, Jr. .........  Vice President of Engineering, Vision Products of    57        1996
                                 Medar, Inc.
Gary G. Wagner.................  Vice President and General Manager, VisionBlox of    46        1995
                                 Medar, Inc.
Max A. Coon....................  Secretary and Vice Chairman of the Board of Medar,   62        1978
                                 Inc.; President and Chairman of the Board of
                                 Maxco, Inc.
Vincent Shunsky................  Treasurer and Director of Medar, Inc.; Treasurer,    48        1978
                                 Vice President of Finance and Director of Maxco,
                                 Inc.
</TABLE>
 
     All of the foregoing officers of the Company have been engaged in the
principal occupations specified above for the previous five years except as
stated above and as follows:
 
     Michael J. Charchol was appointed as Vice President, Vision Products of
Medar, Inc. in March 1997. Prior to that time he had served for seven years as
Vice President of the Company's Integral Vision -- AID subsidiary.
 
     Arthur D. Harmala was appointed as Vice President of Marketing, Vision
Products in March 1995. He has been Vice President, Sales and Marketing for the
Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Integral Vision -- AID, Inc., since 1989 and
was previously employed by the Company since 1985 as director of marketing for
Medar's line of vision products. Mr. Harmala previously worked in sales
management positions at Allen-Bradley Company, Inc., a manufacturer of
programmable controllers, and at Perceptron, Inc., a manufacturer of non-contact
gauging products.
 
     George R. Mather, Jr. became Vice President of Engineering, Vision Products
of Medar, Inc. in September 1996. Prior to that time Dr. Mather had served as
Vice President of Engineering of the Company's Integral Vision -- AID subsidiary
since 1991.
 
     Gary G. Wagner was appointed as Vice President and General Manager,
VisionBlox of Medar, Inc. in September 1996. Mr. Wagner had joined the Company
as Vice President of Vision Sales in March 1995. He previously served as
Director of Marketing from 1988 to 1991, and then Vice President of Marketing
from 1991 to 1994, of Automatix Incorporated, a corporation specializing in
industrial vision applications located in Billerica, Massachusetts. In 1994,
when Automatix merged with another vision manufacturer to form Acuity Imaging
Inc., Mr. Wagner became Vice President of Marketing for that company. Acuity
Imaging Inc., located in Nashua, New Hampshire, develops and markets machine
vision systems for factory automation and image processing software for various
industrial and scientific applications.
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   6
 
                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
     The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Committee")
consists of Max A. Coon and Vincent Shunsky. Messrs. Coon and Shunsky, although
officers of the Company, are also officers and directors of Maxco, Inc., are
paid by Maxco, Inc. and receive no compensation from the Company. Mr. Charles J.
Drake, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, is a director of Maxco, Inc.
 
OVERVIEW AND PHILOSOPHY
 
     The Committee is responsible for developing and making recommendations to
the Board with respect to the Company's executive compensation policies. In
addition, the Compensation Committee, pursuant to authority delegated by the
Board, determines on an annual basis the compensation to be paid to the Chief
Executive Officer and each of the other executive officers of the Company.
 
     The objectives of the Company's executive compensation program are to:
 
      -- Support the achievement of desired Company performance.
 
      -- Provide compensation that will attract and retain superior talent and
         reward performance.
 
      -- Align the executive officers' interests with the success of the Company
         by placing a portion of pay at risk, with payout dependent upon
         corporate performance, and through the granting of stock options.
 
     The executive compensation program provides an overall level of
compensation opportunity that is competitive with companies of comparable size
and complexity. The Compensation Committee will use its discretion to set
executive compensation where in its judgment external, internal or an
individual's circumstances warrant it.
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION PROGRAM
 
     The Company's executive officer compensation program is comprised of base
salary, annual cash incentive compensation, long-term incentive compensation in
the form of stock options, and various benefits, including medical and deferred
compensation plans, generally available to employees of the Company.
 
BASE SALARY
 
     Base salary levels for the Company's executive officers are competitively
set relative to other comparable companies. In determining salaries the
Committee also takes into account individual experience and performance.
 
ANNUAL INCENTIVE COMPENSATION
 
     The Company's annual incentive program for executive officers and key
managers provides direct financial incentives in the form of an annual cash
bonus to executives to achieve the Company's annual goals. Goals for Company
performance are set at the beginning of each fiscal year. In 1996, the following
measures of Company performance were selected: corporate revenue, corporate
earnings, new product development, market penetration, and customer
satisfaction.
 
     Specific individual performance is also taken into account in determining
bonuses, including meeting department goals, attitude, dependability,
cooperation with co-workers, and creativity or ideas that benefit the Company.
In addition, significant individual effort in dealing with specific issues is
taken into consideration.
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   7
 
STOCK OPTION PROGRAM
 
     The stock option program is the Company's long-term incentive plan for
executive officers and key employees. The objectives of the program are to align
executive and shareholder long-term interests by creating a strong and direct
link between executive pay and shareholder return, and to enable executives to
develop and maintain a significant, long-term stock ownership position in the
Company's common stock.
 
     In May 1995 a stock option plan allowing the issuance of options on up to
500,000 shares of the Company's common stock was approved by the Shareholders.
This stock option plan provides for the grant of both options intended to
qualify as "incentive stock options" within the meaning of Section 422A of the
Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and nonstatutory stock options which do not
qualify for such treatment.
 
     The stock option plan authorizes a committee of directors to award
executive and key employee stock options, as well as options to directors and
nonemployees who are in a position to materially benefit the Company. Stock
options are granted at an option price equal to the fair market value of the
Company's common stock on the date of grant, have ten year terms and can have
exercise restrictions established by the committee. Awards are made at a level
calculated to be competitive with companies of comparable size and complexity.
 
DEFERRED COMPENSATION
 
     Effective July 1, 1986, the Company adopted a 401(k) Employee Savings Plan.
The 401(k) is a "cash or deferred" plan under which employees may elect to
contribute a certain portion of their compensation which they would otherwise be
eligible to receive in cash. The Company has agreed to make a matching
contribution of 20% of the employees' contributions of up to 6% of their
compensation. In addition, the Company may make a profit sharing contribution
equal to .5% of compensation for each employee, or more or less at the
discretion of the Board. All full time employees of the Company or its U.S.
subsidiaries who have completed six months of service are eligible to
participate in the plan. Participants are immediately 100% vested in all
contributions. The plan does not contain an established termination date and it
is not anticipated that it will be terminated at any time in the foreseeable
future.
 
BENEFITS
 
     The Company provides medical benefits to the executive officers that are
generally available to Company employees. In addition, executive officers may be
provided with other benefits, such as life insurance and automobiles. The amount
of perquisites, as determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission relating to executive compensation, did not exceed 10% of
salary for any executive officer for fiscal 1996.
 
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
 
     Charles J. Drake has served as the Company's Chief Executive Officer since
1978. His base salary for the 1996 year was $295,000. No bonus was paid to Mr.
Drake for 1996.
 
     Significant factors in establishing Mr. Drake's compensation were his
strategic and overall management direction of the Company and his position and
long service to the Company.
 
     The Committee believes Mr. Drake's compensation is comparable to that of
chief executive officers of similar companies.
 
THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
 
Max A. Coon
Vincent Shunsky
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   8
 
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
     The following table sets forth the cash and noncash compensation for each
of the last three fiscal years awarded to or earned by the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company and to the other executive officers whose compensation
for the 1996 year exceeded $100,000:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               ANNUAL              LONG TERM
                                                            COMPENSATION          COMPENSATION
                                                        --------------------      ------------      ALL OTHER
                 NAME AND                               SALARY        BONUS         OPTIONS          COMP(1)
            PRINCIPAL POSITION                YEAR        ($)          ($)            (#)              ($)
            ------------------                ----      ------        -----         -------         ---------
<S>                                           <C>       <C>          <C>          <C>               <C>
Charles J. Drake..........................    1996      295,000            0              0             991(2)
Chief Executive Officer                       1995      260,000            0        100,000(3)        1,890(2)
                                              1994      100,000      100,000              0             750
Richard R. Current........................    1996      115,000            0         20,000           1,488(4)
Executive Vice President,                     1995       72,981            0                             56(4)
Finance and Operations
Mark R. Doede.............................    1996      105,000            0          3,000             599(5)
Vice President,                               1995       93,462            0              0             580(5)
Welding Products Division
Arthur D. Harmala.........................    1996       92,380       20,000          8,000           1,156(7)
Vice President of Marketing,                  1995       76,448       61,692(6)       5,000           1,999(7)
Vision Products
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------------
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, compensation in this category represents the
    Company's 20% match of employee deferrals of currently earned income into
    the 401(k) Employee Savings Plan and, in 1994, a profit sharing contribution
    made by the Company for all of its employees to the 401(k) Employee Savings
    Plan at the rate of .5% of compensation, up to $150,000 of compensation.
 
(2) Represents premiums paid by the Company on executive term life insurance.
 
(3) These options have lapsed and may no longer be exercised.
 
(4) Includes premiums of $392 and $56 paid by the Company on executive term life
    insurance in 1996 and 1995, respectively.
 
(5) Includes premiums of $79 and $60 paid by the Company on executive term life
    insurance in 1996 and 1995, respectively.
 
(6) Represents sales commissions.
 
(7) Includes premiums of $266 and $226 paid by the Company on executive term
    life insurance in 1996 and 1995, respectively.
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   9
 
OPTIONS
 
     The following table summarizes option grants during 1996 to the executive
officers named in the Summary Compensation Table above, and the potential
realizable value of such options at assumed rates of appreciation.
 
                           OPTION GRANTS DURING 1996
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
                                                                                                      VALUE AT
                                            INDIVIDUAL GRANTS                                      ASSUMED ANNUAL
                                ------------------------------------------                            RATES OF
                                              % OF TOTAL                                             STOCK PRICE
                                               OPTIONS                                            APPRECIATION FOR
                                OPTIONS       GRANTED TO       EXERCISE OR                           OPTION TERM
                                GRANTED      EMPLOYEES IN      BASE PRICE       EXPIRATION      ---------------------
            NAME                  (#)        FISCAL YEAR         ($/SH)            DATE         5% ($)       10% ($)
            ----                -------      ------------      -----------      ----------      ------       -------
<S>                             <C>          <C>               <C>              <C>             <C>          <C>
Charles J. Drake............          0
Richard R. Current..........     20,000(1)        16%             6.25           02-14-06        78,612       199,218
Mark R. Doede...............      3,000(1)       2.4%             6.25           02-14-06        11,792        29,883
Arthur D. Harmala...........      8,000(1)       6.4%             6.25           02-14-06        31,445        79,687
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------------
(1) These options are not exercisable until June 1, 1997.
 
     The following table summarizes the option exercises by the executive
officers named in the Summary Compensation Table above during 1996 and the value
of the options held by such persons at the end of 1996.
 
                    OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND
                             YEAR END OPTION VALUES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                                                      NUMBER OF UNEXERCISED    IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
                                                                        OPTIONS AT FY-END           AT FY-END
                                   SHARES                             ---------------------    --------------------
         NAME AND                 ACQUIRED                                EXERCISABLE/             EXERCISABLE/
    PRINCIPAL POSITION         ON EXERCISE(#)    VALUE REALIZED($)        UNEXERCISABLE           UNEXERCISABLE
    ------------------         --------------    -----------------        -------------           -------------
<S>                            <C>               <C>                  <C>                      <C>
Charles J. Drake...........       111,812             641,930                   250,000             $  137,500
Richard R. Current.........             0                   0             15,000/20,000             $      0/0
Mark R. Doede..............             0                   0              19,000/3,000             $      0/0
Arthur D. Harmala..........         3,000              17,490              14,000/8,000             $      0/0
</TABLE>
 
TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT
 
     Charles J. Drake, the Chairman and CEO of the Company, was indebted to the
Company during 1996, with the largest aggregate amount of such indebtedness
being $309,886. This debt was incurred by Mr. Drake in order to exercise options
to purchase 150,000 shares of the Company's common stock and to satisfy certain
personal obligations and is evidenced by promissory notes bearing interest at
9%. At March 31, 1997, the amount of this indebtedness was $309,886.
 
     Mark R. Doede, the Vice President and COO, Welding Products Division of the
Company, was indebted to the Company during 1996 with the largest aggregate
amount of such indebtedness being $163,435. This debt was incurred by Mr. Doede
in order to satisfy certain personal obligations and is evidenced by a
promissory note bearing interest at 9%. At March 31, 1997, the amount of this
indebtedness was $183,435.
 
COMPLIANCE WITH REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
 
     Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
Directors and Executive Officers or beneficial owners of over 10% of any class
of the Company's equity securities to file certain reports regarding their
ownership of the Company's securities or any changes in such ownership. During
the year ended December 31, 1996, all of such reports were filed as required.
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   10
 
                         COMPARATIVE STOCK PERFORMANCE
 
     The graph below compares the cumulative total shareholder return on the
Common Stock of the Company for the last five years with the cumulative total
return on the CRSP Total Return Index for the NASDAQ Stock Market (US Companies)
(1) and the Dow Jones Industrial Technology Index (2) over the same period,
assuming the investment of $100 in the Company's Common Stock, the NASDAQ Index
and the Industrial Technology Index on December 31, 1991, and reinvestment of
all dividends.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        MEASUREMENT PERIOD             MEDAR, INC.        CRSP TOTAL          DOW JONES
      (FISCAL YEAR COVERED)                              RETURN INDEX        INDUSTRIAL
                                                                          TECHNOLOGY INDEX
<S>                                 <C>                <C>                <C>
12/31/91                                      100.000            100.000            100.000
12/31/92                                      124.444            116.378            101.684
12/31/93                                      200.000            133.595            100.123
12/31/94                                      244.444            130.587            105.877
12/31/95                                      140.000            184.674            147.507
12/31/96                                      100.000            227.164            142.229
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------------
(1) The CRSP Total Return Index for the NASDAQ Stock Market (US Companies) is
    composed of all domestic common shares traded on the NASDAQ National Market
    and the NASDAQ Small-Cap Market.
 
(2) The Dow Jones Industrial Technology Index is composed of companies whose
    technology and high-tech products are primarily directed toward industrial
    production and/or quality control.
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   11
 
         SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
     The following table sets forth information as of March 31, 1997 regarding
the beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock by (i) the Principal
Shareholder (Maxco, Inc.), (ii) the only other beneficial owners of more than 5%
of the Company's outstanding stock that are known to the Company, (iii) each of
the Company's Directors, (iv) each of the Company's Executive Officers listed in
the Summary Compensation Table, above, and (v) all Officers and Directors of the
Company as a group.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             AMOUNT AND NATURE OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
                                                     ---------------------------------------------------------
                                                       SOLE VOTING             SHARED VOTING
                                                           AND                      AND
                                                     INVESTMENT POWER         INVESTMENT POWER         PERCENT
                                                     ----------------         ----------------         -------
<S>                                                  <C>                      <C>                      <C>
Maxco, Inc.......................................       1,893,405                                       21.39%
  1118 Centennial Way
  Lansing, MI 48917
Fidelity Management & Research Company...........       1,150,000(1)                                    12.99%
  82 Devonshire Street
  Boston, MA 02109
Charles J. Drake.................................         480,378(2)                                     5.28%
Max A. Coon......................................          26,500(3)                                        *
Richard R. Current...............................          16,000(4)                3,000                   *
Mark R. Doede....................................          55,000(5)
Arthur D. Harmala................................          24,000(6)                  100                   *
Stephan Sharf....................................                                   6,000                   *
Vincent Shunsky..................................          21,183(3)                                        *
William B. Wallace...............................          26,000(7)                                        *
Stephen R. Zynda.................................           8,000(8)               18,000                   *
All Directors and Officers as a Group............         730,582(9)               28,100                8.23%
  (13 persons)
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------------
 *  Beneficial ownership does not exceed 1%.
 
(1) Information obtained from Schedule 13G dated February 14, 1997, filed with
    the Securities and Exchange Commission by FMR Corp and sent to the Company
    pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Voting of
    the shares is carried out under written guidelines established by the
    Fidelity Funds Boards of Trustees.
 
(2) Includes 250,000 shares on which Mr. Drake holds options which he is
    eligible to exercise.
 
(3) Does not include shares of the Company held by Maxco, Inc., of which Mr.
    Coon is the President and Chairman of the Board and the owner of 22.7% of
    its common stock, or shares of the Company held by the Maxco, Inc. Employee
    Profit Sharing Plan of which Messrs. Coon and Shunsky are trustees.
 
(4) Includes 15,000 shares on which Mr. Current holds options which he is
    eligible to exercise.
 
(5) Includes 19,000 shares on which Mr. Doede holds options which he is eligible
    to exercise.
 
(6) Includes 14,000 shares on which Mr. Harmala holds options which he is
    eligible to exercise.
 
(7) Includes 7,000 shares on which Mr. Wallace holds options which he is
    eligible to exercise.
 
(8) Includes 2,000 shares on which Mr. Zynda holds options which he is eligible
    to exercise.
 
(9) Includes 365,000 shares on which ten officers or directors hold options
    which they are eligible to exercise.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   12
 
                RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
     The firm of Ernst & Young served as auditors for the Company for the year
ended December 31, 1996.
 
     The Company periodically evaluates its external audit requirements. The
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors will make a decision as to the
selection of external auditors for the year ending December 31, 1997 based on
cost, response time and quality of services available.
 
     A representative of Ernst & Young is expected to be present at the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders, will be available to respond to appropriate questions,
and will have the opportunity to make a statement if he desires to do so.
 
                             SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
 
     Any proposals which Shareholders of the Company intend to present at the
next annual meeting of the Company must be received by the Company by December
25, 1997, for inclusion in the Company's proxy statement and proxy form for that
meeting. Proposals should be directed to the attention of Investor Relations at
the offices of the Company, 38700 Grand River Avenue, Farmington Hills, Michigan
48335.
 
                                 OTHER BUSINESS
 
     The management knows of no other matters that will come before the meeting.
However, if other matters do come before the meeting, the proxy holders will
vote in accordance with their best judgment.
 
     The cost of solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Company. In
addition to solicitations by use of the mails, officers and regular employees of
the Company may solicit proxies by telephone or in person.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                          Max A. Coon
                                          Secretary
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   13
                                  MEDAR, INC.

PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD MAY 28, 1997.

The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Max A. Coon and Charles J.
Drake, and each or any of them, attorney and proxy for and in the names and
stead of the undersigned, to vote all stock of Medar, Inc. (Medar) on all
matters unless the contrary is indicated herein at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held at the corporate offices, 38700 Grand River Avenue,
Farmington Hills, Michigan on May 28, 1997, at 4:00 p.m. local time or at any
adjournments thereof, according to the number of votes that the undersigned
could vote if personally present at said meeting.  The undersigned directs that
this proxy be voted as follows:

1.     ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

       (_) FOR all nominees listed below (except as marked to the contrary
           below).

           M. Coon          V. Shunsky
           R. Current       W. Wallace
           C. Drake         S. Zynda
           S. Sharf

       (_) WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed below

       INSTRUCTION:  TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for any individual nominee
       write that nominee's name in the space provided below:
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.     In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
       business as may come before the meeting.


                 (Continued and to be signed on reverse side)


This proxy, when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein
by the undersigned Shareholder.  If no direction is made, this proxy will be
voted for Proposal 1.

                                  DATED:                , 1997

                                  -----------------------------

                                  -----------------------------
                                  (Signatures must correspond 
                                   exactly with names as printed)

     NOTE:  When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign.  When
signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give
full title as such.  If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by
president or other authorized officer.  If a partnership, please sign in
partnership name by authorized person.

     PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE
     ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

    


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