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Behr to Build New Manufacturing Facility in Michigan

23 April 1999

Behr to Build New Manufacturing Facility in Michigan

    WALLED LAKE, Mich., April 22 -- Behr will build a new
facility to house the operations for the development, design, engineering,
testing and manufacture of engine cooling fans and clutches, according to Hans
Lange, president, Behr America, Inc.
    "This commitment is part of the $120 million investment in North American
facilities," Lange says.
    The new 60,000 square foot facility will be built in Webberville, MI.  It
will be home to the Fan & Clutch Division of Behr America pending approval of
state and local incentives.  It will produce the first electronically actuated
clutches in North America for a Detroit-based automotive OEM customer.
Additional OEM components manufactured by the Fan & Clutch Division are axial
fans, ring fans, bi-metal clutches, shrouds and special fan drives.
    Construction will start in the third quarter of 1999 and pre-production
start-up will begin in early 2000, eventually resulting in 150 jobs.
    "During my trip to Germany last week, the leaders of the Behr Group were
some of the most impressive people I met with," said Governor John Engler.
"Clearly, a cutting edge company like Behr is the type of company we want to
attract to Michigan as we create more jobs.  I am very pleased with this
decision and am confident of the benefits they bring to Michigan and in
return, the benefits our state will bring to Behr."
    A second plant may be added if business plans go well and pending future
state and local negotiations.  Behr also is reviewing possible sites for its
proposed new technical center to be located near the Detroit area, also a part
of the $120 million investment.
    "Technical innovations have helped Behr to become a leading supplier of
both engine cooling and air conditioning systems," according to Dr. Markus
Flik, a member of the board of management of the Behr Group responsible for
worldwide Research and Development.
    "We can now offer our customers entire systems for engine cooling and air
conditioning, which provide a comprehensive optimization of aerodynamics,
thermodynamics and electronic control," Dr. Flik says.  "Fan and clutch
systems play a vital role in that complete system," he reports.
    "In our Webberville facility, we will produce both conventional fan
clutches as well as advanced products such as electronic clutches," according
to Dr. George Moser, vice president and general manager, Fan & Clutch
Division.  "We have successfully proven the advantages of electronic clutches
and will start high volume production for our Detroit-based customers in 2001.
We also are very proud of the results we are achieving with our new, high-
performance, low-noise ring fans, also a first in the North American market,"
Dr. Moser explained.
    The Behr Group, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, with operations in
eight countries, generated 3.0 billion DM in sales during 1998, employing a
total of 11,000 worldwide.  It is the leading European supplier of automotive
air conditioning and engine cooling systems.
    Behr America, Inc. is the group's unit in North America with headquarters
in Charleston, SC, and has three plants in Fort Worth, TX, Charleston, SC, and
Canton, SD, in addition to the upcoming operation in Webberville.