FreeMarkets Expands and Extends Relationship With Pilkington
PITTSBURGH--Nov. 29, 2001--Leading glass manufacturer adds QuickSource(TM) to portfolio of e-sourcing solutions; extends strategic sourcing agreement into 2002
FreeMarkets, Inc. , the leading global provider of e-sourcing software and service solutions, today announced that it has expanded and extended its relationship with Pilkington plc (LSE:PILK), a leading manufacturer of glass and glazing products for the building, automotive, and aerospace industries.
Under the terms of a new agreement, Pilkington has added QuickSource, FreeMarkets' industry-leading e-sourcing platform, to its portfolio of e-commerce solutions. The company has also extended its strategic sourcing relationship with FreeMarkets into 2002.
"We've been very pleased with the results we've achieved using FreeMarkets(R) FullSource(TM), and will continue to leverage the offering to create online markets for a wide variety of goods and services," said David Whatham, Group Director of Supply Management, Pilkington. "In addition, we will use FreeMarkets' QuickSource to structure effective online negotiations on our own in order to further streamline our procurement process, generate additional savings and meet our overall e-sourcing objectives."
Pilkington has been using FreeMarkets FullSource as a platform for sourcing goods and services online since July 2000. FullSource allows companies to leverage FreeMarkets' experience and expertise to create online markets that deliver fast, measurable results. By adding QuickSource to its portfolio of e-sourcing solutions, Pilkington is empowering its procurement professionals by providing tools that will allow them to automate the processes of creating Requests for Quote (RFQs), negotiating and communicating with suppliers.
QuickSource is the industry's leading e-sourcing software solution, designed for sourcing professionals by sourcing professionals. A sophisticated, yet easy to use e-sourcing software platform, QuickSource provides a wide range of RFx functionality, competitive bidding and other negotiation formats, reporting and management tools, robust supplier collaboration capabilities and multi-currency and multi-language features.
"Pilkington pioneered the use of online markets in Europe with its adoption and implementation of FullSource," said Dan Willmer, director and general manager of the automotive sector at FreeMarkets. "By licensing QuickSource, Pilkington is again forging new territory. We are very pleased to be expanding and extending our relationship with the company, and look forward to continuing to provide them with the technology and service solutions they need to reach their e-sourcing goals."
About Pilkington plc
Pilkington produces glass for commercial and residential buildings and is the world's largest supplier of glass to the automotive industry, providing products for one in four of the world's vehicles. The company also manufactures glass products for aircraft and locomotives.
An innovator in processing, Pilkington set the standard for high quality flat glass with the invention of the Float Process, and its method of production has been adopted as the standard way of making high quality glass. Pilkington operates 25 float plants in 12 countries and continues to expand its global automotive and building products glass operations. Additional information about Pilkington can be found at www.pilkington.com
About FreeMarkets
FreeMarkets is the leading global provider of e-sourcing software and service solutions, and operates the world's largest sourcing market. Through its unique combination of industry-leading, web-based software, in-depth supply market information, market operations and expert sourcing services, FreeMarkets has helped customers around the world source more than $25 billion in goods and services in more than 190 different supply verticals and identify savings of more than $5.2 billion. FreeMarkets can be found on the Web at www.freemarkets.com. FreeMarkets(R) and BidWare(R) are registered trademarks of FreeMarkets, Inc., and FullSource(TM) and QuickSource(TM) are pending trademarks of FreeMarkets, Inc.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts, including those statements that refer to FreeMarkets' plans, prospects, expectations, financial projections, strategies, intentions, and beliefs, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to FreeMarkets today, and FreeMarkets assumes no obligation to update these statements as circumstances change. There are risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, market acceptance of FreeMarkets' products and services, the competitive nature of the market for e-commerce products and services, FreeMarkets' ability to predict its revenues and earnings, FreeMarkets' inability to develop competitive new products and services on a timely basis, introduction of new products and services by competitors, declining or uncertain economic and industry conditions, FreeMarkets' ability to attract and retain personnel and other risk factors that are described in more detail in FreeMarkets' most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K/A, and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.