Oshkosh Truck Named Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year

    OSHKOSH, Wis.--Feb. 28, 2003--Oshkosh Truck Corporation received the 2002 Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Award yesterday evening in an awards ceremony held in Milwaukee, Wis. Oshkosh pulled in the top honor, winning a Grand Award for companies with 800 or more employees. The company earned the recognition for overall outstanding achievement, with progressive quality improvements, continuous operational enhancements and commitment to new product development factoring into the judging process.
    Oshkosh is considered a pioneer in the flexible integrated production line concept. The company was the first manufacturer to build defense and commercial heavy trucks on the same line, enhancing flexibility in responding to changing customer requirements and improving efficiency and quality.
    "This prestigious recognition is shared by each of our employees who take such great pride in the work that we do. Our heritage is grounded in the pursuit of manufacturing excellence, and continuous improvement of our operations remains a firm foundation of our future success. Helping our customers do their jobs better is the sole objective of, and the driving force behind our quality initiatives, production enhancements and technology development," said Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh's chairman, president and chief executive officer.
    Oshkosh Truck completed a $10 million, 110,000-square-foot production facility expansion at their headquarters in Oshkosh, Wis., in 2000. The expansion increased truck assembly capacity by 50 percent, refined the manufacturing process and expanded in-line testing capabilities.
    The annual competition is co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state's second largest business association; Virchow, Krause & Company, LLP, a regional accounting and consulting firm; and Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, a large Midwestern law firm.

    Oshkosh Truck Corporation is a leading manufacturer of specialty trucks and truck bodies for the fire and emergency, defense, concrete placement and refuse hauling markets. Products are marketed under the Oshkosh(R), Pierce(R), McNeilus(R), Geesink, Norba and Medtec(R) brand names. The company is headquartered in Oshkosh, Wis., and had annual sales of $1.74 billion in fiscal 2002. The company employs more than 6,000 worldwide.
    For more information about Oshkosh Truck Corporation, log onto the company web site at www.oshkoshtruck.com.