Freudenberg and NOK Group Companies Again Comprise World's Largest Non-Tire Rubber Product Manufacturer

PLYMOUTH, Mich., Aug. 4, 2003 -- It is often said that the whole is more than just the sum of the parts. That's also true for the global Freudenberg and NOK Group, whose partner companies are each strong entities that rank among their markets' leading non-tire rubber product manufacturers. But when viewed together as partners in the global network, they constitute an elastomeric powerhouse -- the largest non-tire rubber product manufacturer in the world -- with non-tire rubber sales in 2002 of more than $3.51 billion.

According to Rubber & Plastics News, a leading rubber industry journal published by Crain Communications, the Freudenberg Group of Germany ranked No. 3 for 2002 in non-tire rubber product sales with $2.05 billion, while partner NOK Corp. of Japan placed 8th in global non-tire rubber sales of $1.26 billion. Vibracoustic Holding GmbH of Germany, a joint venture operating Freudenberg's vibration control business, finished 37th among the world's non- tire rubber manufacturers with sales of $361.9 million, and Freudenberg-NOK G.P., the group's partnership in the Americas, placed No. 8 in the magazine's North American rankings.

According to Dr. Mohsen Sohi, CEO of Freudenberg-NOK, "Synergy and close global coordination among our group companies have helped us become a 'go-to' solutions provider for automakers in sealing and NVH around the world.

"We can thank our customers -- who value our Technology Specialist status in automotive sealing, vibration control and precision molding -- for helping the group build upon its leadership position," said Sohi. "By driving innovation in materials, technologies and designs, and by pursuing perfection through our lean and Six Sigma culture, we hope to continue to grow organically by helping our automotive customers to reduce warranty costs, improve their competitiveness and build consumer loyalty."

The Freudenberg and NOK Group produces more than 10 billion rubber components worldwide annually, with more than 85 percent of those components produced in lean, robust one-piece flow processes. Serving its customers as a Technology Specialist, the group holds more patents in its product areas -- automotive sealing, vibration control and precision-molded components for drivetrain and chassis applications -- than any other supplier.

Plymouth, Mich.-based Freudenberg-NOK is a leader in automotive sealing and vibration control products and a supplier to all automakers producing in North America as well as all major tier one chassis and drivetrain suppliers. The Freudenberg and NOK Group -- with total annual sales of nearly $7 billion and worldwide automotive sales of approximately $4 billion -- is one of the largest and most globally balanced automotive suppliers.

Through a global network of facilities spanning 27 countries with some 25,000 automotive employees worldwide, the supplier group offers its automotive customers globally integrated products, including sealing packages for transmissions, engines, brakes, axles and steering, NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) components and packages, and all rubber, plastic and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) components for suspension, electrical and fuel systems.

The global Freudenberg and NOK Group also offers an extensive portfolio of special precision seals for the aerospace, appliance, business machine, fluid power, marine, medical, off-highway equipment and recreational vehicle markets.

For more information, visit the Freudenberg-NOK web site at www.freudenberg-nok.com