Corteco Builds on WhiteSeal Technology(TM) Coating To Enhance Complete Engine Product Line

New and improved gasket technology on display at AAPEX

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 4 -- Anyone involved in the aftermarket business knows machining and assembly techniques often make engine sealing more challenging than the near-perfect conditions at the original equipment (OE) manufacturer. To accommodate these tough aftermarket assembly conditions -- including rough imperfections in the casting -- Corteco spent the last two years applying expertise from the development of its unique WhiteSeal Technology(TM) gasket coating to enhance the company's entire engine product line.

The innovative WhiteSeal Technology coating, which is demonstrated at Corteco's booth (#1645) here at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), combines a very thin, white epoxy primer and a silicone top coat. The thin epoxy primer encapsulates the gasket material, reducing fluid migration through the material. The silicone rubber coating has excellent adhesion to the gasket material, enabling silicone thickness to be maximized to provide excellent initial conformability and sealing. Finally, the distinctive, light color makes the gasket easier to "read," unlike other gaskets produced in shades of gray, black and blue.

"Our bold decision to make the gaskets white clearly demonstrates our confidence in this technology," said Marty Novil, director of static sealing for Corteco. "The color calls attention to the slightest leak or weakness and proves under real-world conditions that Corteco gaskets have raised the bar in aftermarket sealing products."

Corteco isn't the only one talking about the benefits of this unique technology, its customers are praising it as well.

"We've been using WhiteSeal Technology on the majority of applications since August 2002 and since that time we've seen a significant decrease in head gasket related failures on the remanufactured engines we produce," said Greg Gordon, president of Four Star Engines & Parts, a division of Consolidated Manufacturing Inc., and a Hutchinson, Kan. rebuilder. "We have toured the Corteco Technology Center and met the engineers who developed the WhiteSeal gasket. The Corteco team has been exceptional in answering questions and working with us to solve sealing issues on many types of engines."

Following the success of its WhiteSeal Technology head gaskets, Corteco has taken the lessons learned from developing this revolutionary coating and applied them throughout the company's product line, resulting in improved, world-class engine products which are on display here at the show.

"Corteco is committed to bringing OE engineering and quality to our entire product line through continuous improvement," said Novil. "Over the last two years we have focused on leveraging our OE seal experience to produce the best gaskets in the industry. We've upgraded the materials, we've improved the tooling and manufacturing process, and we've developed original designs -- helping us to set a new industry standard for quality."

For example, Corteco's paper gaskets, typically found in water outlet or thermostat applications, now feature a light-colored, functional anti-stick coating similar to that used in the WhiteSeal Technology, as well as an improved grade of paper that is equivalent to OE quality.

Also, the company has developed a high-grade cork rubber material that is more heat resistant and oil resistant than current versions on the market and plans to introduce new cork rubber gaskets next year that will offer enhanced performance over standard cork gaskets.

Corteco is a one-stop shopping solution for gasket and sealing needs -- offering a full range of original equipment products for the automotive aftermarket. The company currently ships 4.5 million transmission kits, 1.6 million power steering kits and 1.4 million engine gasket kits per year, covering virtually all vehicles sold in the North American market.

Corteco is the aftermarket business of Plymouth, Mich.-based Freudenberg- NOK, part of the Freudenberg and NOK Group Companies, with total annual sales of more than $7 billion and worldwide automotive sales of approximately $4 billion. The Freudenberg and NOK Group is among the world's largest and most globally balanced automotive technology suppliers.

For more information, visit Corteco's web site at www.corteco-usa.com and the Freudenberg-NOK web site at www.freudenberg-nok.com .