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Riviera Tool Co. Announces New Orders and Status Of Plant Expansion

9 November 1998

Riviera Tool Company Announces Strong New Orders and Status Of Plant Expansion and Manufacturing Process Improvements

    GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Nov. 6 -- Grand Rapids, Michigan-based
Riviera Tool Company (Amex: RTC) today announces that they have realized a
strong increase in new orders during the time period between June 1 and
October 31, 1998.  The Company received new orders totaling in excess of $11.5
million, with a significant portion of these orders received from the Chrysler
Corporation, and should be reflected in sales and net income during the next
four quarters.  The Company also noted they have recently experienced an
increase in international requests for quotations.  The Company is encouraged
by the request to participate in new international product development.
     "The significant level of contracts awarded in recent months is an
indication of increased confidence by our customers in the Company's
capabilities and continued strength of our markets," President Kenneth K.
Rieth said, adding, "The Company, by receiving these significant contracts in
conjunction with our existing strong contracts-in-process levels indicates
that we are continuing to feel the benefits of a strong automotive market."
    The Company further wants to report the status of its on-going expansion
and manufacturing process improvements.  The Company indicates that they are
in line with respect to both the timing and cost of the expansion and related
process improvements.  During fiscal 1998, the Company incurred over $1.0
million of additional expenses as the result of outsourcing certain of its
manufacturing processes.  This increase resulted in large part due to the
Company rebuilding and upgrading its machining equipment, which lowered its
machining capacity and resulted in increased outsourced machining expense.
Upon completion of the machining equipment rebuild and upgrade, the Company
believes that its production capacity and efficiency will improve
significantly and the effects of these improvements on its operations should
be reflected in the Company's 1999 third and fourth quarters operating
results.
    This release contains forward-looking statements relating to future
financial and other results.  Forward-looking statements include statements
concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance
and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements
of historical facts.  Such forward-looking statements may be identified by the
use of the words "anticipates," "expects," "plans," "predicts," "projects,"
and similar expressions.  These cautionary statements and any other cautionary
statements that may accompany the forward-looking statements expressly qualify
all such statements.  Forward-looking statements involve risk and
uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially
from those expressed in the forward-looking statements.
    Riviera designs, develops and manufactures custom large scale metal
stamping die systems used in the high speed production of sheet metal stamped
parts and assemblies for the automobile industry.  Riviera's common stock
trades on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol "RTC".