Gentex Named GM Supplier of the Year
27 April 1998
Gentex Receives General Motors' Supplier of the Year Award
ZEELAND, Mich., April 27 -- Gentex Corporation
, the Zeeland, Michigan-based manufacturer of automatic-
dimming mirrors and fire protection products, was recently named by General
Motors as a 1997 Supplier of the Year. The award, announced
Saturday at a ceremony in Mexico City, recognizes companies worldwide that
exceed specific performance standards in the areas of quality, service and
price.
Gentex supplies GM with Night Vision Safety(TM) (NVS(R)) Mirrors, which
automatically darken to reduce glare from the headlamps of vehicles
approaching from the rear. The brighter the glare, the darker the mirrors
become, making nighttime driving safer.
Gentex was one of 182 companies that received the award this year, chosen
from a GM supplier base of more than 30,000 companies. Teams of purchasing,
quality, engineering and manufacturing experts from GM operations around the
world selected the winners. These teams reviewed supplier performance in
quality, service and price during the 1997 calendar year.
"Gentex is truly globally competitive and, by virtue of this reward, is
recognized as a worldwide leader in product development, technology,
manufacturing, continuous improvement, value and most importantly, quality,"
stated Harold R. Kutner, GM's vice president for Worldwide Purchasing and
North American Production Control & Logistics, who hosted the awards program.
Gentex Executive Vice President Kenneth La Grand said his company
especially appreciated the award for its global significance. Said La Grand,
"We take great pride in being named a GM Supplier of the Year, particularly
because the award is granted by a diverse group of experts from GM operations
around the world. This type of recognition affirms the commitments we've made
to remaining the leading, global supplier of automatic-dimming rearview
mirrors."
The GM Supplier of the Year awards are a long-standing tradition at GM.
The awards began in Germany over 20 years ago and were expanded to all of GM
Europe in 1989. The Supplier of the Year awards became an international award
in 1992.
Gentex Corporation is an international company that provides high-quality
products to the worldwide automotive industry and North American fire
protection market. The Company develops, manufactures and markets proprietary
electro-optic products, including interior and exterior electrochromic,
automatic-dimming Night Vision Safety(TM) (NVS(R)) automotive rearview mirrors
that dim in proportion to the amount of headlight glare from trailing vehicle
headlamps, and an extensive line of fire protection products for commercial
applications.
Gentex was the first company in the world to successfully develop and
produce a commercial electrochromic mirror for the motor vehicle industry.
The Company is the leading supplier of these mirrors to the worldwide
automotive industry. Gentex customers include Audi, Bentley, BMW, Chrysler,
Daewoo, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Gulf States Toyota, Honda, Hyundai,
Infiniti, Kia Motors, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Porsche,
Rolls Royce and Southeast Toyota Distributors.
Founded in 1974, Gentex operates out of three facilities in Zeeland,
Michigan; an automotive sales office in Livonia, Michigan; automotive sales
and engineering subsidiaries in Germany and Japan; and five regional U.S.
sales offices for the Fire Protection Products Group. The Company is
recognized for its quality products, its application of world class
manufacturing principles, for its commitment to developing and maintaining a
highly skilled workforce, and for encouraging employee ownership of the
Company's stock.
SOURCE Gentex Corporation