New Facility to Manufacture RIETER ULTRA LIGHT for Toyota

CHICAGO, March 13 -- UGN, Inc., a leading producer of automotive acoustic, interior trim and thermal management products, today announced plans to open a multi-million dollar production facility for its family of RIETER ULTRA LIGHT(TM) acoustic products in Jackson, Tenn. by the end of fourth quarter, 2002. The decision to secure a fourth plant in North America is a result of agreements to manufacture RIETER ULTRA LIGHT(TM) components for future Toyota and Lexus vehicles, with expectations to service all of UGN's North American Japanese transplant customers.

As its acoustic integrator, UGN has an impact on all of Toyota's North American products by supplying acoustic components for nearly all of Toyota's vehicles. Backed by a joint venture of Swiss company Rieter Automotive Systems and Nihon Tokushu Toryo (Nittoku) of Japan, UGN delivers innovative acoustic products manufactured with advanced processes and quality system design. UGN and its parent companies are the foremost acoustic integrators for the automotive industry.

RIETER ULTRA LIGHT(TM) made its North American Japanese transplant debut this past fall on the 2002 Lexus ES 300. A revolutionary patented product, RIETER ULTRA LIGHT(TM) takes a completely new approach to the acoustic treatment of the entire vehicle by positively impacting cost, safety and acoustic performance. Made from tuned, multi-layered materials, RIETER ULTRA LIGHT(TM) is environmentally friendly and replaces insulation products that deflect sound with lightweight, sound-absorbing products.

``With the award of the acoustic business for future Toyota and Lexus vehicles, combined with UGN's expectation to eventually service all of our North American Japanese transplant customers validates the great contributions UGN brings to the automotive market,'' said Gary Jamison, president and CEO of UGN. ``Establishing a fourth manufacturing plant in Jackson, Tenn. shows our commitment to continue providing innovative quality products to the Japanese transplant automobile industry.''

Located on 25 acres in the Tiger Jones Technology Park in a 150,000 square-foot building, UGN's new facility will create approximately 100 new jobs initially and up to 200 jobs within its third year of operation. Aside from UGN's new facility, three automotive and truck assembly plants as well as more than 800 auto-industry suppliers call Tennessee home, increasing the state's appeal to Japanese and other foreign auto-related investors.

Headquartered in Chicago, UGN was incorporated in 1986 as a joint venture between Rieter Automotive Systems and Nihon Tokushu Toryo (Nittoku). Rieter's innovative leadership in theoretical acoustics combined with advanced manufacturing processes and quality system design by Nittoku have established UGN as a preferred supplier of acoustic, interior trim and thermal management products to the Japanese transplant automotive industry in North America. For more information on UGN, visit the company's Web site at www.ugnusa.com and www.rieter.com .