Subsidiary's Acquisition of Hitech Metallurgical

Bodycote International PLC
10 March 2000


For further information, please contact:

John Chesworth, Managing Director
David Landless, Finance Director
Bodycote International plc                   Tel: [phone]

Edward Bridges/Scott Fulton
Financial Dynamics                           Tel: [phone]
                                             
                                 
                                       
                          Bodycote International plc
                                       
                  Bodycote acquires Hitech Metallurgical Co.
                                       

Bodycote   International  plc,  the  international  metal  processing   group,
announces  the  acquisition by its North American subsidiary,  Bodycote  North
America  Inc., of the whole of the issued share capital of Kenneth  H.  Holko,
Inc. trading as Hitech Metallurgical Co. ('Hitech') of San Diego, California.

Hitech  provides  brazing, coating, heat treating, precision welding  services
and  component fabrication.  The company serves primarily the medical, dental,
semiconductor,  computer,  and  electronics industries.   Mr  Ken  Holko,  PE,
Hitech's  former owner, is an internationally recognised metallurgical  expert
that  holds medical coating and joining patents.  Mr. Holko will join Bodycote
with responsibility for the San Diego operation.

Consideration  for  the purchase was US$ 2.5 million (£1.6 million),  paid  in
cash.

Hitech's  sales  for  the  year ended 30 September 1999  amounted  to  US$1.75
million  (£1.1 million), and earnings before interest and tax, on  an  ongoing
basis,  were  US$462,000 (£293,000), and net assets acquired  were  US$374,000
(£237,000).

The acquisition broadens Bodycote's brazing, coating and assembly services and
expertise offered in strategic North American markets.