Hella Program Builds Future Engineers

PLYMOUTH, Mich., Aug. 25, 2004 -- Hella North America is providing real-world experience for engineering students in lighting and electronics in an engineering co-op program with Kettering University in Flint, Michigan.

Kettering students spend alternating three-month terms either attending class on campus or working full-time. In the Hella program, freshmen work in engineering disciplines, sophomores learn testing procedures, juniors participate in manufacturing and design initiatives, and seniors work with Hella supervisors while developing their final theses.

"This the fourth year for the Kettering-Hella co-op program," notes Steve Williams, human resources manager for Hella North America. "The program benefits both the students and Hella. Students gain knowledge in practical situations, and their full-day attention to projects helps to speed the completion of Hella projects. It's truly a win-win situation for all involved."

Kettering students who are part of the lighting co-op program include Dante Casali of Annapolis, Md.; Trevor Couture of Brownstown, Mich.; Jeremiah Mauricio of Tecumseh, Mich.; Kirk Anderson of Morenci, Mich.; Nadia Vanhuffel of Los Angeles, Calif.; and Jeffrey Bargiel of Jefferson Hills, Pa.

Hella's electronics co-op program includes Eric Zolner of Onsted, Mich.; Ryan Denski of Brighton, Mich.; Michael Legacy of Fenton, Mich.; and Chris Rittersdorf of Belding, Mich.

Lighting, electronics, complete vehicle modules, air conditioning systems, vehicle wiring systems and signal processing for the automobile industry, as well as automotive aftermarket components, are the core fields of competency for automotive supplier Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. Sales for the Hella Group are approximately $3.8 billion, placing Hella among the top 100 German industrial companies.

With its corporate headquarters in Lippstadt, Germany, the company employs more than 22,800 people at 61 manufacturing facilities, production subsidiaries and joint-venture companies in 18 countries. Over 1,800 engineers and technicians work in research and development. All of the world's leading automobile and systems manufacturers are Hella customers, as well as the automotive components aftermarket. Additional information is available on the Internet at http://www.hella.com/ .