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Ford Motor Company Recognizes GNB Technologies for World Excellence in Quality

30 April 1999

Ford Motor Company Recognizes GNB Technologies for World Excellence in Quality

    ATLANTA, April 29 -- GNB Technologies has earned one of Ford
Motor Company's first World Excellence Awards.  GNB, a leading
manufacturer and recycler of lead acid batteries for original equipment and
aftermarket applications, was awarded the prestigious Silver Award for Quality
for the manufacture and supply of original equipment Motorcraft(R) batteries
during 1998.
    The World Excellence Awards are a new annual recognition based on quality,
cost and delivery metrics.  The first awards were presented on March 16, 1999
at a dinner honoring the winners and attended by the CEOs of Ford's largest
suppliers from around the world.  Ford has 7000 Suppliers worldwide.  GNB was
the only global battery supplier to win an award.
    "These suppliers are world-class -- an exclusive club of Ford's top
partners.  They made extraordinary contributions to Ford that helped make 1998
a very successful year and helped deliver high quality and value to our
customers," said Carlos Mazzorin, Group Vice President of Purchasing and Ford
of Mexico.  "Performance like this deserves to be recognized."
    GNB has supplied Ford with original equipment starting batteries for more
than 25 years.  The batteries are manufactured at GNB's Dunmore, Pennsylvania
and Shreveport, Louisiana manufacturing facilities.
    "We are proud to be recognized by Ford for the quality of our products,"
said Thomas O. Minner, CEO of GNB Technologies.  "Ford is known worldwide for
leadership in technology and quality, and we greatly value our long-term
partnership with them."
    Note: GNB Technologies is an integrated provider of power technology
products.  It manufactures and recycles lead-acid batteries for the
automotive, recreational, boating, farm, heavy duty truck, electric utility,
electric vehicle, photovoltaic, railroad, telecommunications and
uninterruptible power supply markets in more than 50 countries.  GNB can be
found on the Internet at http://www.gnb.com .

    (R) Motorcraft is a registered trademark of the Ford Motor Company.