EaglePicher Hillsdale & NTZ to Supply Bypass Filter for 2004 Ford E-Series Van

INKSTER, Mich., July 21 -- Ford Motor Company has selected EaglePicher Automotive's Hillsdale Division and NTZ Micro Filtration, Inc. to supply bypass filtration technology for its second transmission system. The filtration system will be provided for 2004 Ford E-250 and E-350 vans.

Full production of the filtering system is scheduled to begin in early 2004.

The filter system, which functions in an auxiliary circuit, utilizes bypass and micro filtration, and can be used in all transmissions. It provides additional ultra high efficiency filtration to the existing filter system. This micro filtration system has several positive effects on powertrain system components, including reduced contamination, reduced internal wear from cleaner transmission parts and increased fluid performance and durability.

Ford was also the first automaker in the U.S. market to provide this bypass filtration system as original equipment. Because of the more efficient performance of transmission systems with the addition of bypass filtration, it is the perfect choice for heavy-service and fleet vehicles such as the E- Series vans, according to Kirk Ciak, NTZ sales manager in North America. "We are confident we will see improved transmission performance and durability."

Shawn Cooney, Hillsdale Division sales engineer, said that Hillsdale and NTZ will provide Ford the complete bypass filtration system. "This system includes the complete filter assembly and cooler lines. Production will take place at Hillsdale Division's EPTEC facility in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, for shipment to Ford's plant in Lorain, Ohio."

NTZ is a world leader in the development of radial bypass micro filtration technology for automotive, marine, hydraulic and aerospace applications. Established in 1973, the Netherlands-based company currently supplies radial filtration systems to these markets. Contact NTZ at www.ntz-filter.com .

Hillsdale Division manufactures precision machined components and assemblies, including dampers, filtration products, knuckles, driveline products and pump components. From headquarters in Hillsdale, Mich., and sales and engineering offices in Inkster, Mich., the division operates 12 facilities in the U.S., Mexico and the U.K.

The division is the first North American supplier to offer secondary micro fluid filtration components for gasoline-powered vehicles, and the first North American damper manufacturer with custom rubber compounding and manufacturing as well as precision machining capabilities.

In addition, the division's technical center is dedicated to vibration control system development and testing, hydraulic pump development and testing, engine and chassis dynamometer testing, a metallurgical laboratory, prototype machining facilities and CAD/CAM/FEA capabilities.

EaglePicher Automotive is an operating unit of EaglePicher, Inc. Its Hillsdale and Wolverine Gasket Divisions are worldwide suppliers of torsional and linear vibration dampers, micro bypass filters, steering knuckles, driveline products, pump components and rubber coated metallic and paper gasketing for automotive OE and aftermarket applications. EaglePicher Automotive operates 17 facilities in the U.S., Mexico, the U.K. and Germany.

Eagle-Picher, Inc., Phoenix, Ariz., is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of advanced technical and industrial products for automotive, filtration, aerospace, defense and commercial applications worldwide. The company has 4,000 employees and operates more than 30 plants in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the U.K. and Germany. Additional information is available at www.eaglepicher.com .