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Donnelly Corporation to Supply First-Ever Plastic Lens for 1998 Luxury Vehicle

7 August 1997

Donnelly Corporation to Supply First-Ever Plastic Lens for 1998 Luxury Vehicle

    TUCSON, Ariz., Aug. 7 -- Donnelly Optics Corp. announced
today it has received new business commitments to produce the auto industry's
first-ever plastic projector-type lens, to be used in the front park/turn lens
for a 1998 domestic luxury vehicle.
    Beginning in October, Donnelly Optics will produce 200,000 lenses (two
lenses per vehicle) each year for the life of the program.  The vehicles will
be assembled in Michigan, and will arrive in dealer showrooms in late
December.
    Because of their high-tech, specialized appearance, projector-type lenses,
also known as elliptical lenses, are most often found on high performance
vehicles.  Until now, projector-type lenses have been made only from ground
glass, but Donnelly's projector-type lenses are made of polycarbonate
materials.  Using a proprietary tool construction and an injection molding
process, Donnelly produces plastic lenses that offer better performance, a
clear, almost jewel-like finish and a substantially lower price.
    "Donnelly Optics is among only a handful of companies around the world
capable of consistently producing these high-quality plastic lenses," said Dan
Joseph, acting general manager of Donnelly Optics.  "The fact that we can
offer these lenses at a substantial cost savings speaks well of our technology
and of our commitment to provide our customers with affordable performance
through our product offerings and superior customer service."
    Donnelly Optics Corp. produces high-quality precision injection-molded
diffractive, refractive and hybrid optical lenses.  Diffractive optics have a
wide variety of uses in such industries as computers, telecommunications,
aerospace, medical instruments and the automotive industry.  Donnelly Optics
is a wholly owned subsidiary of Donnelly Corporation .

SOURCE  Donnelly Corporation