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Kennametal Named GM Supplier of the Year

6 May 1999

Kennametal Named GM Supplier of the Year; Kennametal Earns Tooling Recognition For Third Straight Year

    LATROBE, Pa., May 6 -- For the third consecutive year,
Kennametal Inc. has been named a Supplier of the Year by General
Motors Corporation (GM).
    "GM's Suppliers of the Year represent the `best of the best,'" said Harold
R. Kutner, GM's vice president and group executive, Worldwide Purchasing and
North American Production Control & Logistics and host of the awards program.
"Of GM's 30,000 suppliers, Kennametal is one of only 184 that have achieved
Supplier of the Year distinction for 1998, an honor accorded to those
suppliers who have achieved world-class levels of quality, service, technology
and price in support of General Motors."
    "It is a distinct honor to receive this award from General Motors -- a
valued customer and partner," said Robert L. McGeehan, president and chief
executive officer of Kennametal.  "Together, GM and Kennametal stand for
quality in everything we do.  We both are dedicated to advanced technology,
customer service and value.  This acknowledges the dedication of 14,000
Kennametal employees worldwide who strive everyday to exceed our customer's
expectations.  It is rewarding to have GM recognize our efforts for the third
consecutive year."
    The 1998 winners represent 29 nations.  The companies recognized were
selected by teams of purchasing, quality, engineering and manufacturing
experts from GM operations around the world.  These teams reviewed supplier
performance in quality, technology, service and price during the 1998 calendar
year.
    Kennametal is one of only 96 companies to receive the award for three or
more years.
    "Kennametal is a premier supplier to GM's Machinery & Equipment/Indirect
commodity group of Worldwide Purchasing," said June Nagle, executive director,
Worldwide Purchasing, Machinery & Equipment/Indirect.  "The 1998 Supplier of
the Year Award recognizes Kennametal for its metalcutting tooling, systems,
supplies and accessories and its technical expertise and advice."
    This is the seventh year for GM's program that recognizes supplier
companies worldwide who exceed specific performance standards in the areas of
quality, service and price.  The GM Supplier of the Year Awards began in
Germany more than 20 years ago and were expanded to all of GM Europe in 1989.
The Supplier of the Year Awards became an international recognition in 1992.
    Kennametal Inc. is a vertically integrated manufacturer and marketer of
consumable tools and industrial supplies for the metalworking, mining and
highway construction industries.  Kennametal goes to market through multiple
channels and has a global sales and distribution network.  With 14,000
employees worldwide and annual sales of approximately $2 billion, Kennametal
is one of the world's leading producers and suppliers of cutting tools and
wear-resistant parts made of cemented carbides, high-speed steel and other
hard materials.