Exhibit 99.1

[Gardner Denver logo]


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                                PRESS RELEASE
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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August 16, 2004                        Contact:  Helen W. Cornell
                                                 Vice President, Finance and CFO
                                                 (217) 228-8209

               GARDNER DENVER ANNOUNCES ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES

QUINCY, IL, (August 16, 2004) -- Gardner Denver, Inc. (NYSE: GDI) announced
today the following organizational changes, which are effective immediately:

1.   Philip Roth, Vice President, Finance and CFO, has resigned from Gardner
     Denver to pursue other interests.

2.   Helen Cornell has been appointed to succeed Mr. Roth as Vice President,
     Finance and CFO. Mrs. Cornell formerly served as the Vice President and
     General Manager, Fluid Transfer Division and Operations Support. In her
     new role, she will also continue to lead the Operations Support
     function.

3.   The Pump Division has been consolidated into the Fluid Transfer
     Division. This combined division will operate in the future as the
     Fluid Transfer Division and will continue to be reported as part of the
     Company's Fluid Transfer Products segment.

4.   Richard Steber has been appointed Vice President and General Manager of
     the new Fluid Transfer Division. Mr. Steber previously served as the
     Vice President and General Manager of the former Pump Division.

Ross Centanni, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gardner
Denver said, "We are excited about the formation of our new Fluid Transfer
Division. All of the products of the former Fluid Transfer and Pump
Divisions are used in fluid conveyance, and thus, logically fit into the
same division. Combining all of these products under the new Fluid Transfer
Division should enhance the efficiency and profitability of the Company's
operations. We also wish Phil Roth the very best in his future personal and
professional pursuits and thank him for his past





service and leadership to Gardner Denver. We want to emphasize that his
decision was not the result of any disagreements with the Company or its
auditors regarding financial matters or the application of accounting
principles and policies."

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Gardner Denver, with 2003 revenues of $440 million ($578 million on a pro
forma basis including Syltone), is a leading manufacturer of reciprocating,
rotary and vane compressors 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).


All of the statements in this release, other than historical facts, are
forward-looking statements made in reliance upon the safe harbor of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including without
limitations, the expected effect on earnings from the acquisition. As a
general matter, forward-looking statements are those focused upon
anticipated events or trends and expectations and beliefs relating to
matters that are not historical in nature. Such forward-looking statements
are subject to uncertainties and factors relating to the Company's
operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict
and many of which are beyond the control of the Company. These uncertainties
and factors, including the Company's ability to successfully combine the
former Pump and Fluid Transfer Divisions, could cause actual results to
differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by such
forward-looking statements. For a complete list of such uncertainties and
factors, please refer to the Company's Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter
Ended June 30, 2004, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
August 9, 2004.

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