[GARDNER DENVER logo]


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                                PRESS RELEASE

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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February 21, 2006                            Contact: Helen W. Cornell
                                             Vice President, Finance and CFO
                                             (217) 228-8209


           GARDNER DENVER, INC. ANNOUNCES TWO-FOR-ONE STOCK SPLIT
                      IN THE FORM OF A STOCK DIVIDEND;
   ACTION SUBJECT TO STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL OF INCREASE IN AUTHORIZED SHARES


QUINCY, IL, (February 21, 2006) - Gardner Denver, Inc. (NYSE: GDI) announced
today that its Board of Directors has approved a two-for-one split of the
Company's common stock to be effected in the form of a 100% stock dividend.
As the Company does not have enough authorized shares of common stock to
effect a two-for-one split, the split is contingent upon stockholder
approval of an increase in the number of authorized shares of common stock
at the May 2, 2006 annual meeting of stockholders.

Subject to receiving such stockholder approval, the record date for the
stock split will be May 11, 2006, with the distribution date expected to be
on or about June 1, 2006. If stockholders approve the increase in the number
of authorized shares at the annual meeting, stockholders of record on the
record date will receive on the distribution date one additional share of
the Company's common stock for each share owned. As proposed, the stock
split would increase the number of outstanding shares of common stock from
approximately 26 million to approximately 52 million shares.

Gardner Denver, Inc., with 2005 revenues of $1.2 billion ($1.4 billion on a
pro forma basis including the acquisition of Thomas Industries, which was
completed in July 2005) is a leading worldwide manufacturer of
reciprocating, rotary and vane compressors, liquid ring pumps and blowers
for various industrial and transportation applications, pumps used in the
petroleum and industrial markets, and other fluid transfer equipment serving
chemical, petroleum, and food industries. Gardner Denver's news releases are
available by visiting the Investor Relations page on the Company's website
(www.gardnerdenver.com).