Woodhead Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: WDHD) today announced that it has made an equity investment in Symphony Systems. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Located in Campbell, CA., Symphony Systems is developing a comprehensive, open architecture solution for web-based equipment application software. Symphony's products enable advanced connectivity between the factory floor manufacturing equipment and the many distributed users, providing real-time access to the information that is required to manage and optimize the equipment operations. Symphony Systems simplifies the linking of equipment with applications to securely share equipment data via the Internet. Symphony Systems' products are in customer trials and will begin shipping in early 2000.

Philippe Lemaitre, President and Chief Operating Officer of Woodhead Industries stated, "The partnership with Symphony Systems represents the next step in our strategy to be the world leader in both hardware and software connectivity. The combination of Symphony Systems software with Woodhead Connectivity products will enable our OEM customers and alliance partners to provide web-based connectivity to their industrial products."

Dr. Keith Bennett, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Symphony Systems stated, "This partnership will enable us to greatly accelerate our vision for integrating equipment into enterprise and virtual factory applications that flexibly link people, products and global resource planning. Woodhead Connectivity's products will enable Symphony to implement a full connectivity solution comprised of equipment connectivity, applications and services to effectively utilize and manage capital equipment."

Woodhead Industries, Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets specialty electrical, electronic, and industrial communications products primarily serving the global automation and control market with connectivity solutions.

Symphony Systems, a privately held company founded in 1997, provides web-based applications and services for equipment, primarily serving the semiconductor and semiconductor equipment industry. www.symphony-systems.com

Certain statements contained herein constitute "forward- looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual and future performance or achievements of Woodhead Industries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include: achieving sales levels to fulfill revenue expectations; the absence of presently unexpected costs or charges, certain of which may be outside the control of Woodhead Industries; general economic and business conditions; competition; and other factors described in Woodhead Industries' SEC filings.

For further information contact: Robert G. Jennings, V.P. Finance & CFO, (847) 317-2400; e-mail: jennings@woodhead.com