John Hrit Joins EaglePicher Hillsdale Division

Named Operations Vice President of Automotive Supplier Company

INKSTER, Mich., July 21 -- John M. Hrit was named vice president of operations with the Hillsdale Division of EaglePicher, Inc. David Treadwell, division president, made the announcement.

In this position, Hrit will oversee all manufacturing engineering, quality and manufacturing operations within seven division locations in Michigan, Indiana, Tennessee and Mexico. Hillsdale Division manufactures precision machined components and assemblies, including noise/vibration/harshness (NVH) components, knuckles/corner systems and pump components. The division is the first North American supplier with custom rubber compounding and manufacturing as well as precision machining capabilities.

The division's technical center is dedicated to vibration control system development and testing, hydraulic pump development and testing, engine and chassis dynamometer testing, a metallurgical laboratory, prototype machining facilities and CAD/CAM/FEA capabilities.

Hrit previously served as vice president, manufacturing operations with ASC Inc., a Southgate, Mich.-based specialty vehicle supplier. His responsibilities encompassed the company's nine manufacturing locations, as well as all the operations from prototyping to production of the Chevrolet SSR. Prior positions have included manufacturing management positions with AutoAlliance International, Flat Rock, Mich., and General Motors Corporation, Pontiac, Mich. Most recently, Hrit was an operations and manufacturing management consultant to automotive suppliers.

Hrit earned a bachelor's degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from General Motors Institute, Flint, Mich., and a master's degree in Systems Engineering from Oakland University, Rochester, Mich.

EaglePicher, Inc., Phoenix, Ariz., is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of advanced technical and industrial products for automotive, filtration, aerospace, defense and commercial applications worldwide. The company has 4,000 employees and operates more than 30 plants in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Germany. Additional information is available at www.eaglepicher.com.