George Dettloff Appointed President, Automotive Division - North America, for SKF

PLYMOUTH, Mich., Jan. 12, 2004 -- George W. Dettloff has been appointed president, Automotive Division, North America for SKF, a major manufacturer of seals and bearings for the automotive industry. In his new position he will oversee all of the division's North American original equipment and aftermarket operations, including financial, sales, marketing, engineering and manufacturing. Dettloff will report to Tryggve Sthen, president, Automotive Division, who is responsible for worldwide activities and based in Gothenburg, Sweden.

"George Dettloff brings an excellent automotive background and leadership skills that will be key to guiding our business in North America at a time of tremendous challenge and opportunity in the industry," said Sthen. "George brings a strong customer focus and an international reputation for introducing new products, improving financial performance and creating dynamic teams. Since joining SKF, he has done a tremendous job guiding our Chicago Rawhide operations and improving the productivity and profitability of our seals business. We look forward to his broader contributions in his expanded role."

Dettloff assumes these new responsibilities in addition to his current position as president, Chicago Rawhide Americas which is headquartered in Elgin, Illinois. Dettloff will be relocating to the Detroit area, and will be operating from SKF's North American Technical Center in Plymouth, Michigan. Prior to joining Chicago Rawhide Inc. in 2000, Dettloff was president of Textron Fastening Systems and before that had senior management positions at Eaton Corporation and General Motors.

Dettloff earned a BS in Industrial Engineering at General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) and an MBA in Finance and Trade at the University of Detroit. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and is a registered Professional Engineer in Michigan.

Founded in Sweden in 1907, SKF is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden with technology centers in the Netherlands, Italy and the United States. SKF has a long history of innovation, including the development of the first integrated wheel hub bearing in 1939, and the first full by-wire controlled concept car, the Filo, jointly launched with Stile Bertone in February of 2001. Chicago Rawhide, which became part of the SKF Group in 1990, celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2003, and has been a supplier to the automotive industry for over 100 years.

Today's products include SKF bearings, Chicago Rawhide seals and value- added subassemblies for corners and steering, and driveline and engine systems for both cars and trucks. The company also offers by-wire SMART actuators and sensors, plus a variety of design, testing and consulting services. SKF employs approximately 40,000 worldwide, has annual sales of over $5 billion, and sells its products in more than 150 countries. More information is available at www.skf.com .