<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.5


               ELEVENTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

     This Amendment, dated as of October 25, 2001, is made by and among
SHELDAHL, INC., a Minnesota corporation (the "Borrower"), WELLS FARGO BANK
MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION f/k/a Norwest Bank Minnesota, National
Association, a national banking association ("Wells Fargo"; in its separate
capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders, the "Agent"), and each of the
financial institutions appearing on the signature pages hereof.

                                    Recitals

     The Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders are parties to a Credit and
Security Agreement dated as of June 19, 1998, as amended by a First Amendment to
Credit and Security Agreement dated as of November 25, 1998, a Second Amendment
to Credit and Security Agreement dated as of March 31, 1999, a Third Amendment
to Credit and Security Agreement dated as of April 5, 1999, a Fourth Amendment
to Credit and Security Agreement dated as of November 9, 1999, a Fifth Amendment
to Credit and Security Agreement dated as of June 16, 2000, a Sixth Amendment to
Credit and Security Agreement dated as of June 27, 2000, a Seventh Amendment to
Credit and Security Agreement dated as of November 7, 2000, an Eighth Amendment
to Credit and Security Agreement and Waiver of Defaults dated as of December 26,
2000, a Ninth Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement and Waiver of Defaults
dated as of May 23, 2001, and a Tenth Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement
dated as of August 13, 2001 (as so amended, the "Credit Agreement"). Capitalized
terms used in these recitals have the meanings given to them in the Credit
Agreement unless otherwise specified.

     The Borrower has informed the Agent that the planned Materials Business
Sale will not occur. The Borrower has requested that the Lenders and the Agent
permit the Borrower (i) to borrow additional Subordinated Debt of $7,000,000 and
(ii) to factor certain foreign Accounts. The Lenders and the Agent are willing
to grant the Borrower's requests provided the Borrower grants the Agent a first
priority mortgage lien over all of its real estate in Northfield, Minnesota and
certain other amendments are made to the Loan Documents.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
covenants and agreements herein contained, it is agreed as follows:

     1. Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used in this Amendment which are
defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the same meanings as defined therein,
unless otherwise defined herein. In addition, Section 1.1 of the Credit
Agreement is hereby amended by adding, amending or deleting, as the case may be,
the following definitions:

          "Additional Warrants" - deleted.

<PAGE>






          "`Assignment of Rents' means the Borrower's Assignment of Rents and
     Leases dated as of May 15, 1991, as amended by (i) a First Amendment to
     Mortgage and Assignment of Rents dated as of October 16, 1992, (ii) a
     Second Amendment to Mortgage, Assignment of Rents and Environmental
     Indemnity dated as of November 24, 1993, (iii) a Third Amendment to
     Mortgage, Assignment of Rents and Environmental Indemnity dated as of
     January 24, 1995, (iv) a Fourth Amendment to Mortgage, Assignment of Rents
     and Environmental Indemnity dated as of March 12, 1996, (v) a Fifth
     Amendment to Mortgage, Assignment of Rents and Environmental Indemnity
     dated as of June 19, 1998, and the Sixth Mortgage Amendment, covering
     certain real property located in Dakota and Rice Counties, Minnesota,
     described therein and certain other property located thereon."

          "`Collateral' means all of the Borrower's Accounts, chattel paper,
     deposit accounts, documents, Equipment, General Intangibles, goods,
     instruments, Inventory, Investment Property, letter-of-credit rights,
     letters of credit, Receivables, all sums on deposit in any Collateral
     Account, and any items in any Lockbox; together with (i) all substitutions
     and replacements for and products of any of the foregoing; (ii) in the case
     of all goods, all accessions; (iii) all accessories, attachments, parts,
     equipment and repairs now or hereafter attached or affixed to or used in
     connection with any goods; (iv) all warehouse receipts, bills of lading and
     other documents of title now or hereafter covering such goods; (v) any
     money, or other assets of the Borrower that now or hereafter come into the
     possession, custody, or control of the Lender; (vi) all sums on deposit in
     the Special Account; and (vii) proceeds of any and all of the foregoing;
     but excluding, however, the Factored Accounts."

          "EBITDA" for the period means, the sum of (i) pretax earnings from
     continuing operations, excluding any non operating gains and/or
     extraordinary gains, plus (ii) Interest Expense, plus (iii) depreciation,
     depletion, and amortization of tangible and intangible assets, plus (iv)
     non-cash charges for asset impairment based on appraisals of the assets of
     the Borrower and its Affiliates, only to the extent it is included in
     pretax earnings from continuing operations in (i) above, minus (v)
     miscellaneous losses and minus special extraordinary losses, in each case
     for such period, computed and calculated in accordance with GAAP.

          "`Eleventh Amendment' means that certain Eleventh Amendment to Amended
     and Restated Credit and Security Agreement dated as of October ___, 2001."

          "`Factored Accounts' has the meaning given in Section 2.24."

          "`Margin' means six percent (6.0%)."



                                      -2-



<PAGE>


          "`Mortgage' means the Borrower's Combination Mortgage, Security
     Agreement and Fixture Financing Statement dated as of May 15, 1991, as
     amended by (i) a First Amendment to Mortgage and Assignment of Rents dated
     as of October 16, 1992, (ii) a Second Amendment to Mortgage, Assignment of
     Rents and Environmental Indemnity dated as of November 24, 1993, (iii) a
     Third Amendment to Mortgage, Assignment of Rents and Environmental
     Indemnity dated as of January 24, 1995, (iv) a Fourth Amendment to
     Mortgage, Assignment of Rents and Environmental Indemnity dated as of March
     12, 1996, (v) a Fifth Amendment to Mortgage, Assignment of Rents and
     Environmental Indemnity dated as of June 19, 1998, and the Sixth Mortgage
     Amendment, covering certain real property located in Dakota and Rice
     Counties, Minnesota, described therein and certain other property located
     thereon."

          "`Original Warrants' means the Warrants dated June 19, 1998 issued to
     the Lenders to purchase an aggregate of 100,000 shares of the Borrower's
     common stock, subject to adjustment as set forth therein."

          "`Sixth Mortgage Amendment' means that Sixth Amendment to Mortgage,
     Assignment of Rents and Environmental Indemnity by the Borrower and the
     Lenders of even date herewith."

          "`Subordinated Debt' means Debt of the Borrower and/or its Affiliates
     that is subject to a Subordination Agreement."

          "`Subordination Agreement' means (i) the Subordination Agreement dated
     as of December 28, 2000, executed by Morganthaler, Ampersand, Ampersand
     Companion and Molex in favor of the Lenders and the Agent and acknowledged
     by the Borrower, (ii) the Subordination Agreement dated as of May 23, 2001,
     executed by Morganthaler, Ampersand and Molex in favor of the Lenders and
     the Agent and acknowledged by the Borrower, (iii) the Subordination
     Agreement dated as of August 13, 2001, executed by Morganthaler and Molex
     in favor of the Lenders and the Agent and acknowledged by the Borrower,
     (iv) the Subordination Agreement dated as of October 25, 2001, executed by
     Morganthaler Partners VII, L.P., Ampersand and Molex in favor of the
     Lenders and the Agent and acknowledged by the Borrower and (v) any other
     subordination agreement accepted by the Lenders and the Agent from time to
     time."

          "`Warrants' has the meaning given in Section 2.25(b)."



                                      -3-


<PAGE>


     2. Rules of Interpretation. Section 1.2 of the Credit Agreement is amended
to read as follows:

          "Section 1.2 Other Definitional Terms; Rules of Interpretation. The
     words "hereof", "herein" and "hereunder" and words of similar import when
     used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to
     any particular provision of this Agreement. All terms defined in the UCC
     and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the
     UCC. References to Articles, Sections, subsections, Exhibits, Schedules and
     the like, are to Articles, Sections and subsections of, or Exhibits or
     Schedules attached to, this Agreement unless otherwise expressly provided.
     The words "include", "includes" and "including" shall be deemed to be
     followed by the phrase "without limitation". Unless the context in which
     used herein otherwise clearly requires, "or" has the inclusive meaning
     represented by the phrase "and/or". Reference to any agreement (including
     the Loan Documents), document or instrument means such agreement, document
     or instrument as amended or modified and in effect from time to time in
     accordance with the terms thereof (and, if applicable, in accordance with
     the terms hereof and the other Loan Documents), except where otherwise
     explicitly provided, and reference to any promissory note includes any
     promissory note which is an extension or renewal thereof or a substitute or
     replacement therefor. Reference to any law, rule, regulation, order,
     decree, requirement, policy, guideline, directive or interpretation means
     as amended, modified, codified, replaced or reenacted, in whole or in part,
     and in effect on the determination date, including rules and regulations
     promulgated thereunder."

     3. Fees. Subsection 2.22(g) of the Credit Agreement is amended to read as
follows:

          "(g) CONTINUATION FEES. By letter dated September 13, 2001 to the
     Borrower, the Agent has notified the Borrower of the existence of certain
     Events of Default under the Credit Agreement (the "Known Existing Events of
     Default"). Provided no Event of Default that is not a Known Existing Event
     of Default occurs after the date of the Eleventh Amendment and the Borrower
     pays the Agent the fees described in this Subsection (g) ("Continuation
     Fees"), the Lenders and the Agent agree to forbear from exercising their
     rights and remedies under this Agreement. The Continuation Fee for each
     period described below shall be deemed fully earned on the first day of
     each period if any Obligations remain unsatisfied on such date and even if
     an Event of Default, that is not a Known Existing Event of Default, occurs
     after the date of the Eleventh Amendment, but shall be due and payable as
     set forth below.

               (i) The Continuation Fee for the period from September 1, 2001
          through December 31, 2001, shall be $250,000, due and payable in full
          on the date of the Eleventh Amendment, provided, however, that if no
          Event of Default, that is not a Known Existing Event of Default,
          occurs after the date of




                                      -4-


<PAGE>


          the Eleventh Amendment, the Lenders shall rebate (A) $16,667 of such
          Continuation Fee if the Borrower's EBITDA for the fiscal month ended
          September 28, 2001, is greater than ($3,244,000), (B) $16,667 of such
          Continuation Fee if the Borrower's EBITDA for the fiscal month ended
          November 2, 2001, is greater than ($131,000), and (C) $16,667 of such
          Continuation Fee if the Borrower's EBITDA for the fiscal month ending
          November 30, 2001, is greater than $209,000. Any rebate to be given to
          the Borrower shall be made on the 15th day of the month following the
          fiscal month for which the EBITDA target was achieved, by means of a
          credit to the outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Advances.

               (ii) The Continuation Fee for each calendar month from January 1,
          2002, through March 31, 2002, shall be $100,000, provided, however,
          that if no Event of Default, that is not a Known Existing Event of
          Default, occurs after the date of the Eleventh Amendment, (A) the
          Continuation Fee for January 2002 shall be $50,000 if the Borrower's
          EBITDA for the fiscal month ending December 28, 2001 is greater than
          or equal to $246,000, (B) the Continuation Fee for February 2002 shall
          be $50,000 if the Borrower's EBITDA for the fiscal month ending
          February 1, 2002, is greater than or equal to $418,000, and (C) the
          Continuation Fee for March 2002 shall be $50,000 if the Borrower's
          EBITDA for the fiscal month ending March 1, 2002, is greater than or
          equal to $777,000. Each such Continuation Fee shall be due and payable
          in full on the 15th day of the month to which the Continuation Fee
          relates or the Termination Date, whichever is earlier."

     4. Factored Accounts. The following new Section 2.24 is added to the Credit
Agreement immediately after Section 2.23:

          "Section 2.24 Factored Accounts. The Borrower desires to sell certain
     Accounts owed by certain foreign account debtors, except Accounts included
     in the Borrowing Base for which a Revolving Advance has been or may be made
     (the "Factored Accounts"). Upon receipt of evidence satisfactory to the
     Agent that the Borrower has found a Person, reasonably acceptable to the
     Agent and the Lenders, that will purchase the Factored Accounts on a
     non-recourse basis (except for Factored Accounts that are outstanding for
     more than 90 days after the invoice date) and without requiring the grant
     of a security interest in any Collateral, the Agent shall release its
     Security Interest in the Factored Accounts to the extent necessary to
     permit such purchases."

     5. Warrants. The following new Section 2.25 is added to the Credit
Agreement immediately after Section 2.24:

          "Section 2.25 Warrants.



                                      -5-

<PAGE>



                  (a) Within five (5) Banking Days after the date of the
         Eleventh Amendment, the Borrower shall deliver to the Agent a
         certificate (i) stating that except as set forth on such certificate,
         since June 19, 1998, the Borrower has not (A) issued or sold any shares
         of Common Stock (as defined in the Original Warrants) or Convertible
         Securities (as defined in the Original Warrants) that would result in
         an adjustment of the exercise price or number of shares purchasable
         under the Original Warrants, (B) declared any dividend on its Common
         Stock payable in Common Stock or Convertible Securities, (C) declared
         any other dividend or distribution upon its Common Stock payable
         otherwise then out of earnings or earned surplus, (D) subdivided its
         outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares, (E)
         altered the conversion rate or consideration payable upon conversion of
         any Convertible Securities, or (F) engaged in any capital
         reorganization or reclassification, or consolidation or merger with
         another entity; (ii) setting forth a true and correct calculation of
         any changes in the exercise price and number of shares purchasable
         under the Original Warrants as a result of the transactions disclosed
         on such certificate; (iii) setting forth the price of the Borrower's
         stock at the close of business on the date of the Eleventh Amendment
         (the lower of such closing market price and the price calculated
         pursuant to clause (ii), the "Preliminary Exercise Price"); (iv)
         containing a calculation of the further adjustment of the exercise
         price and number of shares purchasable under the Original Warrants as a
         result of the issuance of the warrants to the Subordinated Lenders on
         or about the date of the Eleventh Amendment assuming for purposes
         thereof, that the exercise price of Original Warrants was equal to the
         Preliminary Exercise Price immediately prior to such issuance; and (v)
         containing a final determination of the exercise price ("Final Exercise
         Price") and the number of shares purchasable ("Number of Shares") under
         the Original Warrants as a result of the foregoing. If the Borrower
         fails to deliver such certificate, the Agent may, at the Borrower's
         expense, hire a Person to prepare such certificate and the Borrower
         shall cooperate and assist that Person.

               (b) Within fifteen (15) Banking Days after the date of the
          Eleventh Amendment, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to the
          Agent, amended and restated warrants in favor of each Lender (each a
          "Warrant", and together with any warrants issued in exchange or
          substitution therefor, the "Warrants"), to purchase in the aggregate
          the Number of Shares of Common Stock at the Final Exercise Price. The
          Warrants shall be substantially similar to the Original Warrants
          provided that they shall expire not earlier than the fifth anniversary
          of the date of the Eleventh Amendment, shall not be any less favorable
          than the warrants issued to the Subordinated Lenders and shall be
          otherwise acceptable to the Agent and the Lenders."



                                      -6-


<PAGE>



     6. Commercial Tort Claims.

          (a) Section 3.1 of the Credit Agreement is amended by adding the
     following new sentence at the end thereof:

          "Upon request by the Lender, the Borrower will grant the Agent a
          security interest in all commercial tort claims it may have against
          any Person."

          (b) Section 6.1 of the Credit Agreement is amended by adding the
     following new subsection (i-1) immediately after subsection (i):

               "(i-1) Promptly upon knowledge thereof, the Borrower will deliver
          to the Agent notice of any commercial tort claims it may bring against
          any person, including the name and address of each defendant, a
          summary of the facts, an estimate of the Borrower's damages, copies of
          any complaint or demand letter submitted by the Borrower, and such
          other information as the Agent may request."

     7. Financing Statements. Section 3.6 of the Credit Agreement is amended by
adding the following new sentence before the first sentence of that Section:

         "The Borrower authorizes the Agent to file from time to time where
         permitted by law, such financing statements against collateral
         described as "all personal property" or describing specific items of
         collateral including commercial tort claims as the Agent deems
         necessary or useful to perfect the Security Interest."

     8. Warrants.

          (a) Section 5.4 of the Credit Agreement is amended to read as follows:

          Section 5.4 Warrants and Warrant Stock. The Warrants, when issued,
     shall be duly authorized, validly issued and outstanding, fully paid,
     nonassessable and free and clear of all pledges, liens, encumbrances and
     restrictions except for restrictions on transfer pursuant to the Securities
     Act, and the shares of Warrant Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants
     shall have been reserved for, and the Warrant Stock when issued and paid
     for in accordance with the Warrants will be duly authorized, validly issued
     and outstanding, fully paid, nonassessable and free and clear of all
     pledges, liens, encumbrances and restrictions, except for restrictions on
     transfer pursuant to the Securities Act. The Warrants and the certificates
     representing the Warrant Stock to be delivered upon the exercise of the
     Warrants, will be genuine, and the Borrower has no knowledge of any fact
     which would impair the validity thereof."



                                      -7-



<PAGE>

          (b) Section 6.16 of the Credit Agreement is amended to read as
     follows:

          "Section 6.16 Reserved."

     9. Financial Covenants. Sections 6.18 through 6.21 of the Credit Agreement
are amended to read as follows:

          "Section 6.18 Reserved.

          "Section 6.19 Reserved.

          "Section 6.20 Reserved.

          "Section 6.21 - Minimum EBITDA. The Borrower will achieve during each
     period described below, EBITDA, of not less than the amount set forth
     opposite such period:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
           PERIOD                                  MINIMUM EBITDA
           ------                                  --------------
<S>                                                <C>
1 fiscal month period ending                         ($3,750,000)
September 28, 2001

2 fiscal months ending November 2,                   ($3,800,000)
2001

3 fiscal months ending November 30,                  ($3,500,000)
2001

4 fiscal months ending December 28,                  ($3,500,000)
2001

1 fiscal month ending February 1, 2002                        $0

2 fiscal months ending March 1, 2002                    $500,000

3 fiscal months ending March 29, 2002                 $1,000,000
</TABLE>

     10. Liens. Section 7.1(f) of the Credit Agreement is amended to read as
follows:

          (a) a subordinated lien in favor of the Subordinated Lender on all
     assets, other than real property assets, including but not limited to
     Manufacturing Fixtures (as defined in the Subordinated Secured Notes
     Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2001, by and among the Borrower and
     the Subordinated Lender) of the Borrower, its Affiliates and its



                                      -8-



<PAGE>


     Subsidiaries, including but not limited to IFT, which lien may secure not
     more than $12,000,000 in principal amount, plus interest and costs of
     collection of Subordinated Indebtedness, shall be subordinate to the
     Security Interest, and which shall be automatically released upon the
     closing of the sale of any such assets to any bona fide purchaser approved
     by the Agent. Following such a sale contemplated in this Subsection (f),
     the Subordinated Lender may hold a lien on only those proceeds of such sale
     which are in excess of the Obligations."

     11. Additional Subordinated Debt. Sections 7.2(b-1) and (b-2) are amended
to read as follows:

          "(b-1) Subordinated Debt to be used for general corporate purposes and
     working capital only not exceeding an aggregate principal amount of
     $21,500,000."

     12. Sale or Transfer of Assets; Suspension of Business Operations. Section
7.6 of the Credit Agreement is amended by deleting the words "Section 7.10" in
the second line thereof and inserting in their place the words, "Sections 2.24
and 7.10".

     13. Events of Default. Section 8.1 of the Credit Agreement is amended by
deleting Subsections (r) through (y) and inserting the following new subsections
(r) and (s) are added immediately after subsection (q):

          "(r) Within five (5) Banking Days after the date of the Eleventh
     Amendment, the Borrower shall fail to deliver to the Agent copies of the
     executed Subordinated Debt documents in favor of the Subordinated Lenders
     (including copies of all warrants issued in favor of the Subordinated
     Lenders) and evidence that the Borrower has received the cash proceeds of
     not less than $7 million in new Subordinated Debt less costs and expenses
     incurred in connection therewith;"

          "(s) Within thirty (30) days after the date of the Eleventh Amendment,
     the Borrower shall fail to deliver to the Agent a commitment by Old
     Republic National Title Insurance Company to issue a mortgagee's title
     insurance policy with respect to the Real Estate in the amount of not less
     than $8 million, subject only to permitted liens and encumbrances
     identified in the Mortgage."

     14. Binding Effect, etc. Section 10.12 of the Credit Agreement is amended
to read as follows:

          Section 10.12 Binding Effect; Assignment; Complete Agreement;
     Exchanging Information. The Loan Documents shall be binding upon and inure
     to the benefit of the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders and their
     respective successors and assigns,



                                      -9-



<PAGE>


     except that the Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights
     thereunder or any interest therein without the prior written consent of the
     Agent and the Lenders. To the extent permitted by law, the Borrower waives
     and will not assert against any assignee any claims, defenses or set-offs
     which the Borrower could assert against the Agent or any Lender. This
     Agreement shall also bind all Persons who become a party to this Agreement
     as a borrower. This Agreement, together with the Loan Documents, comprises
     the complete and integrated agreement of the parties on the subject matter
     hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, on the subject
     matter hereof. Without limiting any Lender's right to share information
     regarding the Borrower and its Affiliates with that Lender's participants,
     accountants, lawyers and other advisors, each Lender, its ultimate parent
     company, and all direct and indirect subsidiaries of such ultimate parent
     company, may exchange any and all information they may have in their
     possession regarding the Borrower and its Affiliates, and the Borrower
     waives any right of confidentiality it may have with respect to such
     exchange of such information."

     15. Retention of Documents. The following new Section 10.12A is added to
the Credit Agreement immediately after Section 10.12:

          "Section 10.12A Retention of Borrower's Records. The Lenders and the
     Agent shall have no obligation to maintain any electronic records or any
     documents, schedules, invoices, agings, or other papers delivered to any
     Lender or the Agent by the Borrower or in connection with the Loan
     Documents for more than four months after receipt."

     16. No Other Changes. Except as explicitly amended by this Amendment, all
of the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement shall remain in full force
and effect and shall apply to any advance or letter of credit thereunder.

     17. Mortgages; Due Diligence. The Agent may in its sole discretion and at
the Borrower's cost, conduct such due diligence with respect to the Real Estate
as prudent lenders typically do, including obtaining a survey, environmental
audit, appraisal and mortgagee's title insurance (with various endorsements) for
an amount not less than $8,000,000.

     18. Conditions Precedent. This Amendment shall be effective when the
following conditions have been met to the satisfaction of the Agent:

          (a) the Agent shall have received a fully executed original hereof and
     of the Acknowledgment and Agreement of Guarantor;

          (b) payment of the Continuation Fee described in Section 2.22(g)(i) of
     the Credit Agreement; and



                                      -10-




<PAGE>


          (c) the Sixth Mortgage Amendment, duly executed by the Borrower.

     19. Representations and Warranties. The Borrower hereby represents and
warrants to the Lenders as follows:

          (a) The Borrower has all requisite corporate power and authority to
     execute this Amendment and to perform all of its obligations hereunder, and
     this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and
     constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower,
     enforceable in accordance with its terms.

          (b) The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this
     Amendment have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and
     do not (i) require any authorization, consent or approval by any
     governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or
     instrumentality, domestic or foreign, (ii) violate any provision of any
     law, rule or regulation or of any order, writ, injunction or decree
     presently in effect, having applicability to the Borrower, or the articles
     of incorporation or by-laws of the Borrower, or (iii) result in a breach of
     or constitute a default under any indenture or loan or credit agreement or
     any other agreement, lease or instrument to which the Borrower is a party
     or by which it or its properties may be bound or affected.

          (c) All of the representations and warranties contained in Article V
     of the Credit Agreement are correct on and as of the date hereof as though
     made on and as of such date, except to the extent that such representations
     and warranties relate solely to an earlier date.

     20. References. All references in the Credit Agreement to "this Agreement"
shall be deemed to refer to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby; and any and
all references in the Security Documents to the Credit Agreement shall be deemed
to refer to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby.

     21. No Waiver. The execution of this Amendment and acceptance of any
documents related hereto shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any Default or
Event of Default under the Credit Agreement or breach, default or event of
default under any Security Document or other document held by the Lenders,
whether or not known to the Lenders and whether or not existing on the date of
this Amendment.

     22. Release. The Borrower, and each Guarantor by executing the
Acknowledgment and Agreement of Guarantor below, each hereby absolutely and
unconditionally releases and forever discharges the Agent, the Lenders, and any
and all participants, parent corporations, subsidiary corporations, affiliated
corporations, insurers, indemnitors, successors and assigns thereof, together
with all of the present and former directors, officers, agents and employees of
any of the foregoing, from any and all claims,



                                      -11-




<PAGE>


demands or causes of action of any kind, nature or description, whether arising
in law or equity or upon contract or tort or under any state or federal law or
otherwise, which the Borrower or the Guarantor has had, now has or has made
claim to have against any such person for or by reason of any act, omission,
matter, cause or thing whatsoever arising from the beginning of time to and
including the date of this Amendment, whether such claims, demands and causes of
action are matured or unmatured or known or unknown.

     23. Costs and Expenses. The Borrower hereby reaffirms its agreement under
the Credit Agreement to pay or reimburse the Lenders on demand for all costs and
expenses incurred by the Lenders in connection with the Credit Agreement, the
Security Documents and all other documents contemplated thereby, including
without limitation all reasonable fees and disbursements of legal counsel.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower specifically
agrees to pay all fees and disbursements of counsel to the Lenders for the
services performed by such counsel in connection with the preparation of this
Amendment and the documents and instruments incidental hereto. The Borrower
hereby agrees that the Lenders may, at any time or from time to time in its sole
discretion and without further authorization by the Borrower, make a loan to the
Borrower under the Credit Agreement, or apply the proceeds of any loan, for the
purpose of paying any such fees, disbursements, costs and expenses, including
without limitation the fees owed under Section 2.22(g)(i).

     24. Miscellaneous. This Amendment may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an
original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute one and
the same instrument.



                             [signatures next page]




                                      -12-


<PAGE>



     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
duly executed as of the date first written above.

WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA,                  SHELDAHL, INC.
  NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Agent



By /s/ Kimberly Leppanen                     By /s/ Benoit Y. Pouliquen
   -------------------------------              --------------------------------
       Kimberly Leppanen                            Benoit Y. Pouliquen
       Its Vice President                           Its President and Chief
                                                    Executive Officer


WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA,                  THE CIT GROUP/EQUIPMENT
  NATIONAL ASSOCIATION                         FINANCING, INC.



By /s/ Kimberly Leppanen                     By /s/ W.B. Stoebig
   -------------------------------              --------------------------------
       Kimberly Leppanen                            W. B. Stoebig
       Its Vice President                           Vice President - Credit






                                      -13-



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                    ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND AGREEMENT OF GUARANTOR

     The undersigned, a guarantor of the indebtedness of Sheldahl, Inc. (the
"Borrower") to the Lenders (as defined in the foregoing Eleventh Amendment to
Amended and Restated Credit and Security Agreement) pursuant to a Guaranty dated
as of May 23, 2001 (the "Guaranty"), hereby (i) acknowledges receipt of the
foregoing Amendment; (ii) consents to the terms (including without limitation
the release set forth in paragraph 22 of the Amendment) and execution thereof;
(iii) reaffirms its obligations to the Lenders pursuant to the terms of the
Guaranty; and (iv) acknowledges that the Lenders may amend, restate, extend,
renew or otherwise modify the Credit Agreement and any indebtedness or agreement
of the Borrower with the Lender, or enter into any agreement or extend
additional or other credit accommodations to the Borrower, without notifying or
obtaining the consent of the undersigned and without impairing the liability of
the undersigned under the Guaranty.

                                       MOLEX INCORPORATED

                                       By /s/ Robert Mahoney
                                          --------------------------------------
                                              Robert Mahoney
                                              Its Vice President and Chief
                                                  Financial Officer