AT&T Global Networking Solution Positions Myers Industries for Growth

Advanced High Speed Network Integrates and Supports Global Manufacturing, Marketing and Distribution

Akron, Ohio, AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) today announced that Myers Industries, Inc. (NYSE: MYE), an international manufacturer of plastic and rubber products for industrial, agricultural, automotive, commercial and consumer markets, has implemented a global IP-based networking solution from AT&T.

Under the terms of the agreement, Myers selected AT&T to deliver its MPLS Virtual Private Network (VPN) solution to support the company’s day-to-day operations worldwide and deliver peak efficiency and reliability for all of its voice and data communications.

AT&T VPN enables Myers to standardize its information technology infrastructure on a single platform and converge various communications capabilities and devices. The network services also pave the way for the company to deploy Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services in the future.

With the AT&T networking solution, Myers gains even greater levels of security and speed for the company’s e-mail, proprietary applications and databases. The AT&T VPN also provides secure connectivity for Myers’ team of remote workers and travelers. This capability helps the company’s sales force verify orders, exchange email, and access Lotus Notes and other applications that are critical to its business. AT&T’s VPN services enable a consistent look and feel, permitting workers who travel to global offices or manufacturing sites to work just as easily as if they were in their own offices.

Myers Industries comprises of 13 companies — or brands — that operate from 29 manufacturing facilities, various sales and marketing offices, and 43 distribution branches located throughout the Americas. The company manufactures products as varied as reusable plastic bulk containers for transporting automotive parts, plastic flowerpots, decorative resin planters serving growers and retail garden centers, and molded rubber parts for makers of heavy trucks, autos and off-road vehicles. Myers also distributes equipment and supplies for the tire service industry.

“AT&T’s network infrastructure and technical capabilities are exactly what we were looking for, and quite frankly the uptime is just amazing,” said Patrick Bell, director-Corporate Information Technology for Myers Industries. “We know we can rely upon the network giving us a great deal of confidence in keeping our business linked.”

Myers can also monitor the performance of its VPN services and its applications through the secure AT&T customer portal, AT&T BusinessDirect®, which provides operational efficiencies including around-the-clock online access to real-time reports on network performance and direct connection to trouble-management systems.