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Freudenberg-NOK Creates Components Division

10 March 1998

Freudenberg-NOK Creates Components Division, Names Tobin As Division President

    PLYMOUTH, Mich., March 10 -- In order to reduce complexity
and increase productivity, Freudenberg-NOK announced today that it has created
a separate Components Division in Northfield, N.H. and has appointed a senior
executive to manage the new business unit.  The announcement was made by
Freudenberg-NOK CEO Joseph C. Day.
    "As part of our management philosophy to 'Get Big by Staying Small,' we
have developed focused factories that are dedicated to fewer processes and
products," Day said.  "The creation of a separate Components Division is a
direct result of this innovative approach.  This will strengthen our company's
continuous improvement efforts to further reduce costs and time-to-market,
while improving productivity and customer satisfaction."
    According to Day, Freudenberg-NOK's latest focused-factory initiative --
called the "Bristol Simplification" -- is underway at the company's Bristol,
N.H. facility.  This involves refocusing the Bristol plant for oil seal
manufacturing only and transferring various non-oil seal production activities
to other Freudenberg-NOK facilities.  He said the plant's rubber mixing,
spring making and metal stamping activities will be moved to the new
Components Division, which will provide component support for the company's
other manufacturing facilities.
    As part of this initiative, Day said, Freudenberg-NOK has named William J.
Tobin president of the Components Division.  Based at the company's Northfield
facility, he will assist with the transfer and then manage the components
business.  He also will be responsible for machine development activities,
expanding the division's customer base beyond Freudenberg-NOK and overseeing
the company's tool shops in Georgia, Indiana and New Hampshire.
    Prior to this new assignment, Tobin served as vice president of the
company's Mexico Division, where he had been responsible for its general
management and profit and loss activities since 1992.  He will continue to
oversee this division.
    Earlier, Tobin served as director of purchasing at Freudenberg-NOK's
headquarters in Plymouth, Mich.  In this position, he was responsible for all
corporate purchasing activities.  From 1989 to 1992, he was the company's
controller, with responsibility for general accounting and financial
reporting.
    From 1983 to 1989, Tobin worked for Manchester, N.H.-based Disogrin
Industries Corp., one of Freudenberg-NOK's predecessor companies.  He began
his career in 1967 as an accountant with John J. Hurley & Co., Inc. in Lowell,
Mass.
    A certified public accountant, Tobin received a bachelor's degree in
accounting from Suffolk University in Boston.
    Plymouth, Mich.-based Freudenberg-NOK is part of the Freudenberg and NOK
Group Companies, which have total annual sales of more than $6 billion.  With
global automotive sales of approximately $3.2 billion for 1997, the
Freudenberg and NOK Group ranks among the world's top 25 independent
automotive suppliers.
    Through a global network of facilities spanning 24 countries with some
21,500 employees worldwide, the supplier group offers its automotive customers
globally integrated products, including total sealing packages for engines,
transmissions and brakes, NVH components and modules, and all rubber, plastic
and PTFE components for suspension, steering, electrical and fuel systems.
    The Freudenberg and NOK Group also offers an extensive portfolio of
precision-molded products for the aerospace, appliance, business machine,
fluid power, marine, medical, off-highway equipment and recreational vehicle
markets.  For more information, visit the Freudenberg-NOK web site at
http://www.freudenberg-nok.com.

SOURCE  Freudenberg-NOK