EXHIBIT 99.1


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                                  NEWS RELEASE
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[MOCON LOGO]

                                                    FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                               DANE ANDERSON, CFO/VP
DECEMBER 22, 2003                                   763-493-6370
                                                    www.mocon.com


                 MOCON TO ACQUIRE PAUL LIPPKE HANDELS OF GERMANY
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN, DECEMBER 22, 2003 - MOCON, INC. (Nasdaq:MOCO) announced today
that it has reached a definitive agreement with Ahlstrom Capital OY of Finland
to acquire all of the shares of Paul Lippke Handels-GmbH.

Paul Lippke Handels-GmbH Prozess- und Laborsysteme (Lippke) is located in
Neuwied, Germany, and has been the primary distributor of MOCON products in
Europe for approximately thirty years. Lippke, with fifteen employees, also
serves in the capacity of distributor or agent for several companies in addition
to MOCON. This acquisition is part of MOCON's previously announced commitment to
long-term growth through a combination of investment in its existing businesses
and through strategic acquisitions.

Commenting on the transaction, Mr. Robert L. Demorest, President and CEO of
MOCON, stated, "We are excited about the acquisition of Lippke, a company who
has a proven track record distributing and servicing our permeation and weighing
products in Europe. The Lippke acquisition provides MOCON with a direct presence
in Europe, which we plan to leverage to benefit all of MOCON's product and
service offerings."

The transaction, subject to closing in the first quarter of 2004, will be
effective January 1, 2004. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

MOCON is a leading provider of instrumentation and consulting and laboratory
services to medical, pharmaceutical, food and other industries worldwide. See
www.mocon.com for more information.
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This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to
the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, the above statements
regarding growth, acquisitions, and plans to leverage Lippke for the benefit of
all of MOCON's products and services, and can otherwise be identified by words
such as "will," "may," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate,"
"continue," or other similar expressions. There are important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward
looking statements made in this press release. These factors include, but are
not limited to, the ability to integrate the acquisition described in this press
release, uncertainties relating to competition and technological change,
worldwide economic and political stability, setbacks in product development
programs, slower-than-anticipated customer acceptance of new products,
dependence on certain key industries, risk associated with the Company's
acquisition strategy and international operations, and other factors set forth
in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002
and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

   MOCON'S SHARES ARE TRADED ON THE NASDAQ STOCK MARKET UNDER THE SYMBOL MOCO.
                 MOCON is a registered trademark of MOCON, Inc.