Timken Deploys Ultriva Lean Manufacturing Software In Its European Automotive Division

CUPERTINO, Calif.--April 24, 2006--Ultriva Inc., the world leader in lean manufacturing software, today announced that the Timken Company has selected Ultriva's Electronic Kanban products for use in its European Automotive Group. Timken is deploying Ultriva's Electronic Kanban software products to improve on-time delivery performance to its customers, reduce inventory, and eliminate stock-outs with its suppliers. Timken has initially deployed Ultriva's hosted, on-demand lean manufacturing software at its Kunsebeck, Germany bearing plant.

The implementation follows the Timken Kunsebeck plant's successful pilot with Ultriva's lean software across three of its suppliers, which began in May 20, 200605. Implementing Ultriva's lean manufacturing software, which replaced traditional purchase order processes, has already resulted in lead-time reductions of more than 30 percent, the elimination of many stock-outs and significant inventory reductions. Based on pilot results, Timken's Kunsebeck plant is targeting a 20 percent reduction in inventory and inventory carrying costs in 2006. The company also anticipates significant reductions in expediting, storage space, lead times, and overtime, as well as increased buyer and planner productivity.

"After speaking with some exceptionally strong customer references, we decided to pilot Ultriva," said Knute Hankins, Timken Automotive Group Director of Lean Manufacturing. "After achieving quantifiable cost reductions and streamlined operations with the pilot, we decided to significantly expand our use of the software. We also expect that Ultriva will help improve coordination between our European facilities, which will improve our responsiveness to changes in customer demand."

"We're proud to be able to help a worldwide leader like Timken accelerate its lean initiatives," said Ashley Stirrup, CEO of Ultriva, Inc. "Cost reduction and improved on-time delivery performance are key drivers for today's tier one automotive suppliers. Timken is at the forefront of Lean as it uses software to drive bottom line results."

Ultriva Electronic Kanban provides an integrated portal for manufacturers and their suppliers to:

-- Improve supplier on-time delivery performance by enabling better collaboration and data sharing between buyers and suppliers.

-- Improve buyer and planner productivity by automatically flagging and communicating new and changed orders to suppliers, eliminating unreliable communications by fax or email.

-- Eliminate stock-outs by tracking order status and proactively alerting buyers to high-risk situations.

-- Reduce inventory levels by providing better inventory on-hand data and continuous improvement analytics.

About Timken

The Timken Company (www.timken.com) keeps the world turning, with innovative ways to make customers' products run smoother, faster and more efficiently. Timken's highly engineered bearings, alloy steels and related products and services turn up everywhere -- on land, on the seas and in space. With operations in 27 countries, sales of $4.5 billion in 2004 and 26,000 employees, Timken is Where You Turn(TM) for better performance.

About Ultriva

Ultriva, Inc., is a leader in lean manufacturing software that drives lean processes across the supply chain -- from suppliers to customers. Ultriva's flagship product, Ultriva Electronic Kanban, eliminates stock-outs while reducing inventory levels up to 75 percent. Ultriva Lean Scheduling complements demand-driven replenishment strategies by optimizing production schedules in real-time around the most variable customer demand. Ultriva Supplier Replenishment extends the replenishment capabilities of kanban to include schedule-based replenishment, discrete POs, min/max, consignment and VMI (vendor-managed inventory) replenishment methods. Ultriva's products are in use in more than 80 plants worldwide incorporating more than 1,000 suppliers and reducing manufacturing costs with industry leaders such as Rexnord, Emerson, Ingersoll-Rand and Invensys.

Founded in 1999, the company pioneered the creation of an application development platform that has helped move lean manufacturing from a paper-based system to one incorporating modern computer technology, allowing seamless integration of the suppliers and customers into plant production processes.