Gage Plans Multi-Million-Dollar Expansion

FERNDALE, Mich., Aug. 27, 2007 -- Gage Products Company, the auto industry's only Michigan-based supplier of custom-blended fuels, plans a multi-million-dollar expansion of its test-fuel division.

Scheduled for completion during the first half of next year, the $5-million program calls for construction of a laboratory, test-fuel blending facility and distribution center, according to Gage President Robert Jamrog.

He said the expansion will enable Gage to meet new-customer contracts, as well as increased demand from existing customers for environmentally-friendly hybrid fuels.

The project will add 10 or more new jobs at Gage, which currently employs more than 75 people at its Ferndale-based headquarters. The company also has facilities in Brazil, Germany, Mexico and the Netherlands.

Jamrog said a site for the new facilities has not been selected, although the company prefers to remain in Ferndale close to its customer base. Sites in Alabama, Georgia, Texas and Mexico also will be considered.

Gage has invested more than $1-million in laboratory and custom-fuel blending facilities during the past five years. Custom-blended fuels and calibration fluids are used by automakers and their suppliers for emission- control testing, as well as in a variety of research and product-development programs.

"We expect to see a significant growth in sales as auto manufacturers and their suppliers work to improve fuel economy and expand the use of environmentally-friendly fuel," Jamrog said. "University engineering departments and test laboratories also are joining our growing list of customers."

During the past 25 years, Gage has provided its customers with more than 700 different test and calibration fuel blends for use in automotive test programs.

A leading global supplier of paint solvents and closed-loop recycling technology, as well as test fuels, Gage has championed a number of programs designed to improve the environment. The company, for example, has helped the auto industry recycle over 75-million gallons of paint solvent at its fully-licensed Resource Conservation and Recovery Act facilities in Ferndale over the past 20 years.

The company has received numerous awards for manufacturing excellence, environmental achievements and quality, including DaimlerChrysler's Environmental Excellence Award, the Society of Automotive Engineers' Environmental Excellence in Transportation Award and awards for quality from Ford, Nissan and DaimlerChrysler. In addition, Gage has earned ISO-9001 and ISO-14001 certification for quality and environmental processes.

A leader in the development of sustainable manufacturing and solvent recovery systems, Gage's products and technology are used in a majority of North America's automotive assembly plants. Additional information about the company is available on the Internet at www.gageproducts.com .