NEWS RELEASE

1495 Steiger Lake Lane Victoria, Minnesota 55386 952-443-2500 CONTACTS: Mark B. Thomas, CEO Mark.thomas@heii.com +1.952.443.7003 For Immediate Release

HEI, Inc. Appoints Vice-President/General Manager of Victoria Operations

New Position Focuses on Rapid Growth in Microelectronic Assembly Business and Delivering High Reliability Products to HEIs Customers

MINNEAPOLIS, March 19, 2012- HEI, Inc. (Pink Sheets: HEII; http://www.heii.com), a leader in Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS), announced today that it has appointed Chad Ruwe Vice President and General Manager of its flagship Microelectronic Assembly High Performance Manufacturing business in Victoria, Minnesota, effective March 5. Chad comes to HEI with a wealth of experience in operations, the medical device industry, and global market expansion. Most recently Chad was COO and Executive Vice President, Operations, at BioDrain Medical, where he was instrumental in achieving outstanding increases in annual revenues, and successfully directed the FDA approval process for medical device clearance. For over 20 years, Chad served in leadership positions at various companies critical to the semiconductor manufacturing supply chain where he successfully brought new technologies to market, enabling process advancements at the worlds leading chip makers. Chads responsibilities encompass comprehensive management of HEIs Microelectronic Assembly Business. His focus will be on optimizing HEIs microelectronic packaging and assembly capability by continuing to streamline operations and expanding production capabilities. This strengthens HEIs leadership position for products and devices requiring expertise in miniaturization solutions, engineering services, Flex, Rigid-Flex and ceramic substrates, lean flow manufacturing, and the ability to develop and implement a wide range of test software and hardware solutions within the Medical Device, Communications, and Aerospace and Defense industries. Chads hands-on background in rapid growth and industry knowledge make him a key addition to the HEI executive team, said Mark Thomas, CEO. We view his technical background and

experience in delivering high reliability products as the skill set needed and a sign of HEIs ongoing commitment to growth and global leadership in all aspects of Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) - design, development and manufacturing, he added. About HEI Inc.
HEI, Inc. designs, develops and manufactures ultra-miniature microelectronics, substrates, systems, connectivity and software solutions for customers engaged in the medical, hearing, telecommunications, military, aerospace, and industrial markets. HEI provides its customers with a single point of contact that can take an idea from inception to a fully functional and cost effective product utilizing innovative design solutions and by the application of state-of-the-art materials, processes and manufacturing capabilities. Visit us at http://www.heii.com.
HEI Inc. 1495 Steiger Lake Lane Victoria, MN 55386 Tel. +1-952-443-2500

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