Freudenberg-NOK President & CEO Named To Rubber Manufacturers Association Board

PLYMOUTH, Mich., Oct. 22, 2003 -- The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), the national trade association for the rubber products industry, has named Dr. Mohsen Sohi, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Freudenberg-NOK, to its board of directors.

"Dr. Sohi's years of experience in executive management ensure that he will be an important addition to the RMA board," said Donald B. Shea, president and CEO of RMA. "His position at Freudenberg-NOK is especially valuable to the RMA's general products group, which focuses on the business interests of non-tire product manufacturers."

"It is an honor to be chosen for the organization which has a reputation of uniting and providing support for the rubber manufacturing industry," Sohi said. "I look forward to providing leadership that will help the RMA properly address the industry's challenges and obstacles."

RMA board members serve a three year term.

Prior to his current position as president and CEO of Freudenberg-NOK, Sohi was senior vice president of the Retail Solutions Division at NCR Corp. Before joining NCR in 2001, he spent more than 14 years at AlliedSignal Corp. and its post-merger successor, Honeywell International Inc., advancing through positions of increasing responsibility in technology, product development, operations and general management.

In addition to his involvement in RMA, Sohi is also active in the Corporate Advisory Board of the American Diabetes Association.

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. Freudenberg-NOK is the American partner of the global Freudenberg and NOK Group, which has total annual sales of more than $7 billion, worldwide automotive sales of approximately $4 billion and is one of the 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

NOTE TO EDITORS: Electronic photos of Dr. Sohi are available by contacting Tina Sullivan of Bianchi Public Relations at 248-269-1122 or via e-mail at tbsullivan@bianchipr.com .