Fleetguard Establishes New Plant in the Southeast to Serve Customers Better

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Aug. 2, 20038, 2003--Fleetguard Inc. announced today the establishment of a new plant in Waynesboro, Georgia. The plant was created to leverage the existing customer base located in that region. The facility will manufacture Nelson branded exhaust products to meet the needs of the Small Engine and Recreational Vehicle (SERV) market, as well as some Automotive customers. The Waynesboro plant will produce mufflers and other products such as tubing and components used in small engines, RVs, ATVs and Personal Watercraft.

"Locating a manufacturing facility in the southeast region of the US is an important step toward securing new business, predominately in the SERV market, and in meeting Fleetguard's strategic business objectives," said Trevor Passmore, Fleetguard Vice President - Strategic Operations. "One of our key objectives is to be First Choice of Customers. A manufacturing facility in this part of the US improves our proximity to key customers, which leads to improved responsiveness, decreased freight costs and improved delivery."

Fleetguard recognized the need for a facility in the southeastern US to build exhaust products to sustain the existing customer base and to win new business. Many key customers in the SERV market are located in this region.

Fleetguard launched the project in August 2002 to locate a site, preferably an existing facility that met the manufacturing needs with minimal structural change. Several locations across the southeast were considered and reviewed. Dave Gill, who led the project, has been named Plant Manager of the 200,000-square-foot, former Black and Decker Kwikset building.

"When we looked at facilities around the southeast, we wanted more than just the land and a building. A location near our customer base, and the skills and excellence of the available workforce was very influential in the decision to locate in Waynesboro," said Gill.

The plant will be starting production over the next several months and expects a workforce of about 100 employees by year-end and will employee over 400 individuals within five years.

Fleetguard Inc., headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., is a business unit of Cummins Inc. and the global manufacturer and specialist of filtration, exhaust and chemical and cooling products and systems for diesel engines (9-7000 horsepower). Fleetguard cares about maintaining a cleaner, healthier, safer environment. Going beyond compliance, Fleetguard proactively seeks improvements to products and processes and offers environmentally friendlier product choices for all major engine systems. Fleetguard's home page on the Internet can be found at www.fleetguard.com.