Invited Guests Were the First to "See What's In The Trunk"
at Public Appearance of the ECHO Carving Team

LAKE ZURICH, Ill. (April 29, 2005) - Art and power tools came together today as five of the top wood carvers in the country competed against each other and against the clock to carve objects out of wood - and reveal "what's in the trunk" - using only a chain saw.

Echo Incorporated, the leading manufacturer of high-performance, handheld outdoor power equipment for professional and residential use, hosted the first public appearance of the Echo Carving Team today at its corporate headquarters in the Chicago suburb of Lake Zurich, Ill. Featuring five of the top competitive wood carvers from across the United States, the ECHO Carving Team consists of Mike Bihlmaier, Marengo, Ill; Mark Colp, Lakeport, Calif.; R.D. Coonrod, Quincy, Ill.; Jason Emmons, St. Croix, Ind.; and Bob King, Edgewood, Wash.

"ECHO has a long-standing tradition of supporting chain saw carvers and carving events," says Joe Fahey, vice president of marketing at Echo Incorporated. "That tradition continues with the development of the Echo Carving Team. Each member of the team is a world-class carver and is very passionate about the sport of competitive carving. This team represents the best of the carving community."

Jim Krischke, mayor of Lake Zurich, judged the carvings, selecting a growling grizzly bear that resembled the local high school mascot as the winner. That sculpture will be donated as an auction piece to Lake Zurich's Relay for Life event that benefits the American Cancer Society to be held June 11. The remaining four sculptures are on display at ECHO's headquarters and will also be put up for raffle as part of ECHO's contribution to Relay For Life. The winners of that raffle will be announced May 20.

Dozens of media members from the Chicago area, including both consumer and trade titles, and many local residents were on hand to witness and experience the roar of the chain saws slicing away superfluous wood chunks as each carver was given four hours in which to sculpt their piece.

Mark Colp's sculpture took the top prize although it was a tough choice between it and Mike Bihlmaier's carved bear. Other sculptures included a trio of perched eagles carved by Bob King, a snowy owl carved by Jason Emmons, and a bench adorned with twin eagle heads carved by R.D. Coonrod. All the items can be viewed on the carving team's web site at: www.echo-usa.com/carvingteam.html.

ECHO's line of chain saws includes eight models, in both top handle and rear handle configurations, ranging from the 30.1 cc CS-301 to the 80.7 cc CS-8000. Designed for long, trouble-free life, ECHO chain saws are built to tackle the toughest jobs, from cutting limbs or firewood to taking down a whole tree.

Echo Incorporated employs a workforce of more than 800. All ECHO products meet the reliability, durability and efficiency demands of professionals and discerning homeowners and have led the industry with a proven standard of performance for more than 30 years. For more information, please visit the company's Web site at: www.echo-usa.com.