Exhibit 99.1
 
Contact:  Bruce C. Wheatley                   Jim Fingeroth/Ruth Pachman/
          Commercial Intertech                Andrea Bergofin
          330-740-8580                        Kekst and Company
                                              212-593-2655


                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                    CUNO FORM 10 DECLARED EFFECTIVE BY SEC;
         SHARES OF SPINOFF WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO COMMERCIAL INTERTECH
                             ON SEPTEMBER 10, 1996

     --CUNO To Begin When Issued Trading Today on Nasdaq National Market--


Youngstown, Ohio and Meriden, Connecticut: September 9, 1996 -- Commercial 
Intertech Corp. (NYSE: TEC) and CUNO Incorporated (Nasdaq: CUNO) announced today
that CUNO Incorporated's Registration Statement on Form 10 has cleared 
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) review and has been declared effective 
by the SEC.

Commercial Intertech has set Tuesday, September 10, 1996 for the distribution to
its shareholders of 100 percent of the common stock of CUNO, its fluid
filtration and purification subsidiary. On that date, the new CUNO shares will
be distributed on a basis of one common share of CUNO for each Commercial
Intertech common share outstanding. CUNO's stock will begin trading today on a
"when issued" basis on the Nasdaq National Market, and will begin trading on
Wednesday, September 11, 1996 on a regular basis under the symbol CUNO.
Commercial Intertech shares will continue to trade with the right to receive
CUNO shares until September 11, 1996, at which time Commercial Intertech will
begin trading without CUNO.

"By completing the spin-off of CUNO, Commercial Intertech is fulfilling the 
strategic plan established earlier this year to separate CUNO from Commercial 
Intertech.

 
CUNO has grown steadily, and we are happy to be able to provide shareholders 
with the full benefit of what we believe will be the higher stock market 
multiple valuation for this excellent company that was previously hidden within 
Commercial Intertech," said Paul J. Powers, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of Commercial Intertech.

With eight manufacturing facilities in six countries, CUNO offers a full range 
of filtration and purification products to remove contaminants from fluids and 
gases to three major market segments, including health care, fluid processing 
and potable water.

Commercial Intertech is a multi-national manufacturer of Hydraulic Systems and 
Building Systems and Metal Products. Employing more than 3,000 men and women 
around the world, the Company has 27 manufacturing facilities in eight 
countries.


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