Grammer Wins International Engineering Award

AMBERG, Germany, July 20 -- Grammer AG has won a new product award for the development of an innovative child-booster seat from Automotive Engineering International (AEI), the official magazine of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).

The SAE new-product awards are presented annually in Detroit. A total of 116 new products were considered this year, then whittled down to 20 award winners by program judges.

Grammer's integrated child-booster seat was recognized for its patented design by the magazine's editors. AEI's editors selected products for innovation and consumer benefits.

"Our commitment to craftsmanship and innovation is represented in this child seat which can save so many young lives," said Walter Schoepf, Grammer's director of global marketing. "It is available in many European vehicles and we hope one day to provide it as an option for the U.S. market."

Grammer AG is a world leader in the development and manufacture of innovative components and systems for automobile interiors. Wherever people use vehicles, Grammer, based in Amberg, Germany, sets the standards for safety, comfort and ergonomics. Automotive is the company's largest division and supplies headrests, armrests, center consoles and integrated child-booster seats to vehicle manufacturers and their tier 1 systems suppliers.

The company's second division, Seating Systems, provides driver seats for heavy trucks and off-road vehicles (tractors, construction machinery, fork- lifts) as well as passenger seats for trains and buses. Grammer Seating Systems is active both as a first-time supplier and as a retrofitter.

As a global player, the Grammer Group operates with a strong customer focus that includes location of development and production facilities close to clients and relies on an international network of partners. In fiscal 2003, Grammer Group sales were $992 million; North American sales totaled $145 million. With over 7,500 employees, Grammer and its 20 consolidated companies operate in 13 different countries worldwide.

Additional information is available by e-mail at AutomotiveInfo.Troy@grammer.com .