Goodyear Engineered Products Opens Brazil Offshore Oil Hose Plant

SAO PAULO, Brazil, Oct. 7, 2005 -- Goodyear Engineered Products opened its new offshore oil hose plant here today with President Tim Toppen, Sao Paulo Governor Geraldo Alchmin and Santana de Parnaiba Mayor Jose Benedito Fernandez participating.

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The $13 million facility, located at Santana de Parnaiba northwest of Sao Paulo, creates 150 jobs and is the company's fifth plant in Brazil. It will produce Goodyear Seawing floating and submarine oil hose, introduced earlier this year and designed to transfer crude oil and derivatives.

"We are sending a clear message that Goodyear Engineered Products is committed to growing its presence in industrial hose markets," said Toppen. "This plant allows us to compete on a global basis with high-quality products made by highly-skilled, dedicated associates."

Toppen said the location was selected from a number of possible sites because of accessibility to the nearby shipping port, the support of local governments, and a proud workforce.

"We are using high-tech manufacturing, technology and management systems to run this plant," he said.

To improve offshore crude oil transfer monitoring and protect the environment, Seawing's double-carcass hoses are equipped with sensors that detect trouble before material can escape into the sea.

"Seawing dovetails the company's environmental stewardship with its social responsibility, providing a balance that meets industry and environmental needs," said Toppen.

Sensors detect oil migration, if a leak begins in the primary internal hose that carries the material. The external hose provides secondary containment of the leaking oil, allowing an operator to continue loading or unloading at a terminal and then changing the hose at a more convenient stage of operations, avoiding downtime.

Seawing is manufactured in 6- to 24-inch bore diameters, weighing up to 6,000 pounds and rated for up to 300 pounds per-square-inch pressure.

Goodyear Engineered Products also has Brazilian plants located at Sao Paulo, Osasco, Maua and Americana.

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