Automotive News 2003 PACE Award Cites Delphi's MagneRide(TM) Suspension with Rheonetic(TM) MR Technology from Lord Corporation

Award Notes "New Standard of Performance"

CARY, N.C., April 10 -- "Automotive News" recently presented its prestigious 2003 PACE Award to Delphi Corp. for its MagneRide suspension technology, utilizing Rheonetic(TM) magnetorheological (MR) fluid from Lord Corporation.

Lord Corporation, the supplier of Rheonetic MR fluid, is the only company supplying MR fluid that meets the rigorous performance standards set by the automotive industry. Lord Corporation is the world leader in commercially proven Rheonetic MR fluids and devices.

The PACE Award represents the most recent recognition of the MagneRide system and its enabling Rheonetic technology from Lord Corp. In 2002, MagneRide was named "Automobile Magazine"'s 2003 Technology of the Year. Additionally, "Popular Science" magazine gave its Best of What's New in Automotive Technology award to GM's Magnetic Ride Control system. Last spring, "Automotive Engineering International" magazine presented Delphi and Lord Corporation its Tech 2002 award for MagneRide.

"More than a decade of persistence in our research and development, when so many others abandoned this technology, is paying off," said Lynn Yanyo, manager of sales and marketing for the Materials Division of Lord Corporation. "The bulk of scientific effort we've dedicated to this technology has focused on commercial practicality."

Judges for the 2003 PACE Award noted MagneRide's "new standard of performance that exceeds valve-based semiactive systems in stability, smoothness, impact feel and other measures. The single-tube MagneRide unit is manufactured more easily than valve-based semiactive units, leading to less scrap and, ultimately, lower cost."

MagneRide is the only real time control system without electromechanical valves and no small moving parts. The system consists of MR fluid-based monotube shock absorbers, a sensor set and onboard controller. The onboard controller continually adjusts the damping forces up to once every millisecond based on input from four suspension displacement sensors, two position driver input switch on the Chevrolet Corvette, a lateral accelerometer and a steering wheel angle sensor.

By controlling the current to an electromagnetic coil inside the piston of the damper. The MR fluid's resistance to flow can be changed. This characteristic, and other features of the MagneRide system, provides smooth, continuously variable damping in a cost effective and reliable package that reduces body motion and increases tire road contact on all types of surfaces.

In addition to primary automobile suspension systems, Lord Corporation's Rheonetic technology has been successfully commercialized to control shock, vibration and motion in seat suspension systems in Class 8 trucks and in school buses, medical prosthetic devices, buildings and bridges.

In another commercial vehicle application, Lord Corporation supplies a fully integrated, MR-enabled Tactile Feedback Device (TFDTM technology) steering systems that faithfully simulate the tactile "feel" operators must rely on in vehicles and equipment designed with control-by-wire systems.

  For more information about Lord MR applications visit:
  http://www.mrfluid.com/

Lord Corporation is a $420 MM privately held, diversified company that designs, formulates, manufactures and markets adhesives, polyurethane coatings, electronic adhesives and coatings; devices and systems to manage mechanical motion and control noise, and products and systems utilizing magnetically-responsive (MR) technology. Lord has three major operating divisions: Chemical Products Division, Mechanical Products Division, and Materials Division. The Corporation has plants in seven states, has facilities/operations in 12 countries and employs over 2,300 worldwide. World headquarters is in Cary, N.C.