Metaldyne's Insert Molded Tube Technology Wins Award for Innovation

PLYMOUTH, Mich., June 15 -- Metaldyne, an Asahi Tec Company, announced its Insert Molded Tube Technology has won the North American Die Casting Association (NADCA) 2007 International Die Casting Competition Award for excellence in aluminum die casting over 10 lbs.

This technology allows for complex passageway inside a die casting. When applied to Front Engine Modular Assembly (FEMA), oil and coolant passageways can be routed to provide optimal performance. Compared to conventional die casting, the winning FEMA eliminates fluid leaks and scraping due to porosity and improves fluid flow efficiency.

"We are pleased to win this award," said Tom Ketelhut, director of engineering, Powertrain Products. "Metaldyne employees are committed to developing new technologies our customers demand and need. We are proud of their innovation in bringing forward products such as the Insert Molded Tube Technology. This technology offers our customers several advantages over conventional die casting as well as sand or semi-permanent mold casting."

The new technology allows for complex passages that are not possible with slide cores, offers reduced machining compared to casting with slide cores and eliminates plugs and leak paths required for sealing intersecting cored passageways. Some other advantages are reduced weight compared to sand cast and semi-permanent casting due to the thinner walls, reduced price cost and the elimination of high pressure wash used in sand mold casting.

The annual competition, sponsored by the North American Die Casting Association, awards designs that demonstrate the versatility, quality, innovation and cost savings that can be achieved with aluminum, zinc and magnesium die cast parts. Entries were judged on design, quality, cost savings, ingenuity, innovation and industry changing potential.

Metaldyne was honored, along with other category winners, at the recent 111th Metalcasting Congress.

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/.