March 22, 2011, TOLLAND, Conn., USA – Gerber Technology, a business unit of Gerber Scientific, Inc. (NYSE: GRB), presented its webPDM^® Achievement Award recently at the FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, Calif. during the graduate thesis presentation event for the school’s International Manufacturing and Product Development Advanced Study Program. Each year, Gerber Technology recognizes the student who best harnesses the functionality of Gerber’s webPDM product data management software in the preparation of his/her thesis. FIDM graduating student, Heidi Riebs, earned the award this year.

FIDM’s Advanced Study Program in International Manufacturing and Product Development is a comprehensive program that immerses the student in all phases of the product development cycle -- from the initial concept and design of the product, through technical design, sourcing, costing, production, and marketing to the consumer.

The nine-month partnership, which includes trips to Europe and Asia for research and trend shopping, ends with thesis presentations, where students reveal their collections and share their experiences with family, friends and potential employers. Students developed this year’s collection in collaboration with Bisou Bisou, an exclusive women’s apparel brand at JCPenney, designed by Michele Bohbot.

Students at FIDM have been using Gerber’s webPDM software for the past 10 years and Gerber’s AccuMark pattern design, grading and marking software for the last two decades. “We are proud to support FIDM and to recognize the efforts of the students in the International Manufacturing and Product Development Advanced Study Program with this achievement award,” said Bud Staples, vice president of North American Sales for Gerber Technology. “FIDM offers students the real-life experience which is essential for success in this industry. Year after year, we’re impressed by the graduates of this cutting-edge program.”

As an industry-leading supplier of computer-aided design and product lifecycle management software, Gerber believes it has a responsibility to continuously help expose students to the latest technology. Gerber provides software and hardware solutions to nearly 1,200 educational institutions in more than 80 countries.

About Gerber Technology
Gerber Technology (www.gerbertechnology.com) is comprised of four businesses that serve distinct market segments. These include the Composites and Automation Solutions group which serves aerospace, fabrication and construction markets with ply cutting, laser templating and laser metrology solutions; the Global Software Solutions business which offers the world's leading product lifecycle management (PLM), product data management (PDM) and CAD automation solutions for the retail, footwear and apparel businesses; the Sewn Products Solutions business which provides textile cutting and spreading systems to apparel and flexible materials manufacturers in all regions of the world; and Gerber Innovations, North America’s only full-line manufacturer of automated cutting hardware for the packaging industry. In all markets, Gerber’s solutions significantly improve productivity and reduce costs.

Gerber Technology’s world headquarters are located in Tolland, Connecticut, U.S.A. with regional offices, agents and distributors in 129 countries serving nearly 23,000 customers. The company designs and manufactures its products in various locations throughout North America, Europe and Asia. For more information about Gerber Technology, visit us on Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Established in 1968, Gerber Technology is one of three business units of $458 million Gerber Scientific, Inc. (www.gerberscientific.com) of Tolland, Connecticut. Gerber Scientific is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the “GRB” symbol.

About FIDM/ Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
FIDM/ Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is a private college for specialized professional education, accredited by WASC and NASAD, granting Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Business Management degrees. Over the last 40 years, FIDM has graduated more than 40,000 students, preparing them for careers in Fashion, Graphics, Interior Design and Entertainment.

The college is headquartered in downtown Los Angeles, with other campus locations in Orange County, San Diego and San Francisco; 8,000 full-time students.

FIDM is the West Coast home of the popular TV series, “Project Runway” and site of “Design School” an original series on HGTV, featuring eight FIDM Interior Design students in a FIDM SuperLab. The college was also featured on the MTV series: “The Hills” with star student, Lauren Conrad.

FIDM Museum & Galleries has one of the nation’s finest costume collections dating from the 18th century and each year presents major exhibitions.