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Freudenberg-NOK's Milan Facility Receives DaimlerChrysler Award

27 April 1999

Freudenberg-NOK's Milan Facility Receives DaimlerChrysler-Auburn Hills Gold Pentastar Award

    PLYMOUTH, Mich., April 27 -- In recognition of meeting or
exceeding stringent standards for supplying DaimlerChrysler-Auburn Hills with
automatic transmission rebuild kits, Freudenberg-NOK's Milan, Ohio facility
was recently presented with the automaker's Gold Pentastar Award.
    The award -- originally called the Pentastar when established in 1985 --
recognizes suppliers who consistently achieve world-class performance in the
areas of customer support, quality, delivery and cost improvements.  The
aftermarket operation in Milan is the fourth Freudenberg-NOK facility to
receive the distinguished award, which was only given to 10 percent of
DaimlerChrysler's suppliers in 1998.  Milan is one of only 12 service parts
suppliers to receive the award this year.
    Other Freudenberg-NOK facilities to receive the Gold Pentastar include
Cleveland, Ga., LaGrange, Ga. and Manchester, N.H., which captured the award
for two consecutive years.
    "This award is truly a symbol of extraordinary achievement for the
associates at Milan," said David Gardner, president, Freudenberg-NOK's
Aftermarket Division.  "They pride themselves on providing the highest quality
service to all their customers, including DaimlerChrysler.  Receiving the
prestigious Gold Pentastar Award is proof of that."
    In addition to supplying DaimlerChrysler, Freudenberg-NOK's Milan plant
supplies a variety of aftermarket products -- such as automotive transmission
and power steering repair kits, brake kits and components and heavy duty oil
bath seals for truck axles -- to both original equipment parts and service
divisions and various aftermarket channels.  The ISO-9001 certified plant
employs more than 300 associates at the 117,000-square-foot operation.
    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 $3.5 billion, 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
23,000 automotive employees worldwide, the supplier group offers its
automotive customers globally integrated products, including total sealing
packages for transmissions, engines, brakes and steering, NVH (noise,
vibration and harshness) components and modules, and all rubber, plastic and
PTFE components for suspension, 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.