Metaldyne / Tooling University Launch Joint Shop-Floor Training Program

PLYMOUTH, Mich., June 4 -- Metaldyne, an Asahi Tec company, has partnered with Cleveland, Ohio-based Tooling University to offer online shop-floor training for Metaldyne employees.

Metaldyne focuses on continuous learning as part of its corporate strategy and began offering online learning globally to its employees through Metaldyne University in 2004. Tooling University provides online training courses for people in the manufacturing industry.

"Metaldyne is only as successful as the people who work here," said Kim Kovac, executive vice president, Human Resources. "With the automotive industry continually and swiftly changing it's essential to keep our employees up to date on new technology and manufacturing processes. This relationship with Tooling University will help give them the tools they need to ensure that success."

Metaldyne, a leading global automotive designer and supplier of metal- based components, assemblies and modules, first ran a pilot program of Tooling University classes involving employees at several locations. "The students in our pilot program gave us very positive feedback, which helped us decide to expand the program, "said Kovac.

"Tooling University is excited to partner with a globally recognized corporation such as Metaldyne. The combination of Tooling University's expertise in online training with Metaldyne's industry-leading technology should provide excellent results, "said James Vickers, director of sales for Tooling University.

Starting this year Metaldyne will purchase additional subscriptions to Tooling University for its employees to use. Each employee who receives a subscription will have a year to finish a customized assessment and comprehensive online training program.

About Asahi Tec

Headquartered in Shizuoka, Japan, Asahi Tec primarily designs, manufactures and sells ductile iron cast auto parts for truck and construction machinery OEMs, aluminum casting parts for truck and passenger car OEMs and aluminum wheels for automobile OEMs. Asahi Tec also designs, manufactures and sells environmental systems, equipment and development technologies used by local governments and municipalities and electrical hardware and equipment used by electricity generators.

Its subsidiary, Metaldyne, is a leading global designer and supplier of metal-based components, assemblies and modules for transportation related powertrain and chassis applications including engine, transmission/transfer case, wheel-end and suspension, axle and driveline, and noise and vibration control products to the motor vehicle industry. It is headquartered in Plymouth, Mich.

Asahi Tec has annual revenues of approximately $2.7 billion and employs approximately 10,000 employees at 55 facilities in 15 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.asahitec.co.jp/ and http://www.metaldyne.com/.

About Tooling University

Tooling University provides a wide range of online training courses for people in the manufacturing industry. These courses are delivered through a powerful Learning Management System (LMS) that allows companies to assess training needs and track performance. Tooling University offers training packages for mill/lathe operators, press operators, maintenance personnel, and assemblers, as well as custom-created training material for Fortune 500 manufacturers. For more information about Tooling University and the job- specific training programs, visit http://www.toolingu.com/.