The Haartz Corporation to Increase Prices in North America for Automotive Products

ACTON, Mass., Oct. 18, 2004 -- The Haartz Corporation -- which has a sales office in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. -- announced today it will implement new price schedules in North America for many of its automotive OEM and aftermarket products, effective December 1, 2004. Price increases will range up to 12 percent. Customers are being contacted by their Haartz sales representative with specific details.

"Continued significant escalation of raw material costs has necessitated this increase," said John L. Fox, president of Haartz. "For several years, Haartz has successfully offset cost increases with aggressive implementation of continuous improvement and lean principles."

Fox said cost containment efforts will continue in all areas, including health care, energy, packaging and freight; however, the announced price increases are required to help restore margins to reasonable levels.

Haartz is a privately held company based in Acton, Mass. The company also has production facilities at its European operations in Mannheim, Germany. In business since 1907, the company is a leading producer of coated fabrics for convertible topping, and foils and composites for automotive interiors.