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MANN+HUMMEL Automotive Strengthens its Position in North America

18 December 1997

MANN+HUMMEL Automotive Strengthens its Position in North America With 100% Acquisition of Geiger Technic, Inc., N.A.

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 18 -- In a move to further strengthen
its position in the North American marketplace, MANN+HUMMEL Automotive
acquired 100% of the North American Operations of Geiger Technic, Inc. on
December 6, 1997.
    Geiger, based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is an automotive tier-one supplier
of plastic pressurized welded surge tanks, brake fluid reservoirs and quick
disconnect valves for engine cooling and brake fluid systems.  Employing
approximately 100 people, the company posted annual sales of $10 million in
fiscal year 1996, and has a projected growth in sales of nearly 100% in just
three years.
    Founded in 1983, the North American Operations of Geiger has steadily
strengthened its position in the plastic welded surge tank market supplying to
an impressive customer base including Chrysler, Delphi, Ford, GM, LucasVarity,
Mercedes, Saturn, Valeo, VDO and Volkswagen.  The company prides itself on
being a full service supplier, with complete in-house "black box" design
capabilities.  Distinguishing Geiger from its competitors, the company also
produces complete modules that include the in-tank fluid level sensors and
other associated components.
    As a new part of the MANN+HUMMEL Automotive organization, Geiger will be
established as a division within the North American automotive structure.
Dieter Valk, the prior president of Geiger Technic, Inc., will remain in this
capacity as president of the new division.  The mission of the Geiger Division
will remain, as before, to grow the fluid reservoir business through the
application of sound product engineering and lean manufacturing.
    For Geiger, MANN+HUMMEL brings increased financial resources which will
allow them to continue to grow their core business.  MANN+HUMMEL's global
positioning and extensive expertise in product and processes technologies will
better position the Geiger Division to meet the needs of its existing
customers, attract new customers and to offer expanded manufacturing options
in the Americas.
    The purchase of Geiger Technic, Inc. establishes a solid, high quality
U.S. manufacturing presence for MANN+HUMMEL Automotive.  "The acquisition of
Geiger provides MANN+HUMMEL with both a manufacturing platform and an
established management infrastructure which will support the launch of our
core air induction products in the U.S.," said MANN+HUMMEL Automotive
president, Jim Riordan.  Former vice president of Geiger Technic, Inc., Sigrid
Valk, will assume the role of General Manager of the Air Intake Systems
division of MANN+HUMMEL Automotive.
    The new facility and available land will serve as a center of competence
for MANN+HUMMEL Automotive in the NAFTA region ultimately supporting the
manufacture of their entire range of products including:

    * Air Induction
      - Composite welded intake manifolds
      - Manifold modules
      - Air cleaners
      - Resonators
      - Complete air induction systems

    * Filtration
      - Air filters
      - Oil filters
      - Fuel filters
      - Cabin air filters

    The 54,000 square foot facility is both QS9000 and ISO 9001 certified and
proudly bares the Ford Q1 designation.  Located on an 18 acre site,
MANN+HUMMEL Automotive has plans underway to expand the facility in 1998 to
support the manufacture of welded intake manifolds.  The expansion will
approximately double the size of the current facility.
    MANN+HUMMEL Automotive plans to continue their presence in Detroit's
automotive corridor by maintaining a complete sales and engineering center.
    With 1996 sales of $855 million, the MANN+HUMMEL Group is organized into
two divisions, automotive and industrial.  The automotive division, which
serves both the OEM and Aftermarket, manufactures components ranging from air,
oil, fuel and cabin filters, to oil modules, air cleaners, composite intake
manifolds, manifold modules and complete induction systems.  With over 20
manufacturing/sales locations worldwide, MANN+HUMMEL employs approximately
8,000 people.

SOURCE  MANN+HUMMEL Automotive