C.H. Heist: Other News Release

For Immediate Release
April 28, 1997


        Ablest Service Corp. Acquires Second IT Temporary Staffing
                      Competitor in Less Than Nine Months
                                
                                
     CLEARWATER, Fla. - C.H. Heist Corp. (Amex: HST) today announced that its 
temporary staffing subsidiary, Ablest Service Corp., enhanced its
information technology (IT) professional services capabilities by acquiring 
Solution Source, Inc.

     Atlanta-based Solution Source is an IT staffing provider with 1996 
annualized sales of approximately $3.2 million.  It will be combined with 
Ablest's IT division, Tech Resource Group, which was formed after the 
September 1996 acquisition of Atlanta-based Tech Resource, Inc.

     "This continues the Company's expansion into the rapidly expanding IT 
industry segment, and significantly increases our presence in the Atlanta 
market," Ablest President and Chief Executive Officer W. David Foster said.  
"We plan to actively pursue our growth strategy with expansion into new 
markets with additional acquisitions that enhance the bottom line."

     Britt Ehrhardt, who joined Ablest after the Tech Resource acquisition, 
will remain general manager of the IT division.  Solution Source principals 
Frank Domonousky and Brian Whitfield will join the Tech Resource Group and
be involved with the day-to-day operations of the growing Ablest IT division.

     C.H. Heist Corp. has two major lines of business: temporary staffing and 
industrial maintenance.  The Ablest Service Corp. staffing subsidiary owns and 
operates 35 offices throughout the eastern half of the United States.  It 
serves the business, professional, industrial and information technology (IT) 
sectors.
     
     Heist also provides industrial cleaning and maintenance services to a wide
range of industries, such as chemical, petrochemical, power generation, pulp 
and paper, mining, nuclear and metallurgical plants and mills.  With locations
throughout the eastern United States and Canada, its industrial services 
include high pressure water cleaning, painting, sandblasting, vacuuming of wet 
and dry industrial wastes, turnaround services and insulation sales and 
application.

     C.H. Heist Corp. has announced its intention to spin-off Ablest Service 
Corp.., combined with an initial public offering, by prospectus only, during 
1997.  The move will transform Ablest into a "pure play" company - essential 
in facilitating further growth and securing equity capital to finance expansion
through acquisition and new-office openings.

     Statements made in this news release, other than those concerning 
historical information, should be considered forward-looking and subject to 
certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ 
materially from those projected.  Readers should carefully review and consider 
disclosures, including6 periodic reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission, which attempt to advise interested parties 
of the factors which affect the Company's business.

Ends