Re. Manufacturing in Hythe

Smiths Group PLC
20 March 2006


PRESS RELEASE
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday 20 March 2006



Smiths Medical announces intention to end manufacturing in Hythe

Smiths Medical has announced its intention to transfer 534 manufacturing jobs
from its facility in Hythe, Kent. The majority of the proposed job transfers
will move to existing Smiths Medical manufacturing facilities in Mexico.
Proposals were put to the workforce today that are likely to see manufacturing
at Hythe end within two years.

The company has, however, reaffirmed the role of Hythe as the headquarters of
Smiths Medical International and as its centre of excellence for airway
management and reproductive health products. These activities are expected to
employ around 220 people engaged in R&D, finance, marketing and other support
services. Hythe will also see the creation of a new European shared service
centre.

This announcement marks the next important step in Smiths Medical's
rationalisation programme that follows its acquisition of Medex in March 2005.
Over the past two months the company also announced the closure of two US
manufacturing facilities in Duluth, Georgia and Wampsville, New York with
production transferring to other Smiths Medical locations in the US.

Martin Jamieson, Managing Director Smiths Medical International said: 'This move
is driven by the global competitive environment for our business. Our
competitors have all made similar moves to low-cost countries, which makes
today's announcement unavoidable. We are sorry that this will affect many of our
employees and their families but pleased that Hythe will still offer employment
to more than two hundred people in some key functions.  We will, with immediate
effect, commence a consultation and communication process with employees and
their representatives '


Notes to the Editor

Smiths Group

Smiths Group is a global business, listed on the London Stock Exchange. Smiths
focuses on high performance applications, building and sustaining market-leading
businesses in growth sectors. Smiths has four divisions: Aerospace, Detection,
Medical and Specialty. Together these employ 32,000 people at over 250 major
facilities in 50 countries. For more information visit www.smiths-group.com


Smiths Medical

Smiths Medical is a supplier of specialist medical devices to global markets.
Smiths Medical comprises three product groupings: Safety Devices, Critical Care
and Medication Delivery & Patient Monitoring (MDPM). Smiths Medical customers
include hospitals and other healthcare providers worldwide. Manufacturing is
concentrated in the US, the UK, Mexico and Italy. Smiths Medical employs nearly
7,500 people.


Press Contacts

Chris Fox                                        Rachel Lankester
Director, Group Communications                   Manager,  Group Communications
[phone]                             [phone]



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