Senator Stabenow, Representative Kildee, and Mayor Jones-Ham to Launch Innovative Foundry Facility; GM, CERP, UAW, and Hormel to Showcase GMBOND Sand Binder in Saginaw, Michigan

SAGINAW, Mich.--Aug. 1, 20034, 2003--General Motors, the Casting Emission Reduction Program (CERP), UAW Local 455, and Hormel Foods Corporation will host an open house on August 20, 2003, at the GM Powertrain Saginaw Malleable Iron Plant (SMI) to showcase the GMBOND(R) Sand Binder.

Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow, Representative Dale Kildee, and Saginaw Mayor Wilmer Jones-Ham are scheduled to speak.

The event will mark the official launch of the GMBOND(R) core machine test project at the SMI facility, funded in part by appropriations from the U.S. Department of Defense and support from Michigan Senators Stabenow and Carl Levin and Representative Dale Kildee.

The project is important to both the state of Michigan as it strives to preserve jobs and raise the bar on worker safety and the U.S. foundry industry, which faces increasing pressure from overseas competition and ever-stricter environmental standards. The GMBOND(TM) Process was earmarked for the project because it is protein-based and renewable, unlike commonly used foundry binders that are petrochemical-based. GMBOND(R) saves foundries significant resources in complying with environmental regulations.

About the GMBOND(R) Sand Binder

The GMBOND(R) Sand Binder is a protein-based binder that is making headway in the industry for its ability to reduce emissions and improve a foundry's bottom line. Its first commercial sale was completed in July 2003, to Artso Cores, a foundry in Victoria, Australia.

About CERP

The Casting Emission Reduction Program (CERP) was formed in 1994 through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between the U.S. Department of Defense, the Environmental Protection Agency, the California Air Resources Board, and private-sector organizations the American Foundry Society, the Casting Industry Suppliers Association, and the U.S. Council for Automotive Research. Its mission is to test and/or develop products or processes that reduce negative environmental impact and maintain the competitiveness of the U.S. foundry industry.