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Freudenberg-NOK Establishes North American Brake Hose Business

24 June 1999

Freudenberg-NOK Establishes North American Brake Hose Business Following A Multi-Million Dollar Program Nomination, Appoints Sales Manager

    PLYMOUTH, Mich., June 23 -- After being nominated by a major
global automaker for $21 million in brake hose business, Freudenberg-NOK has
announced that it will establish operations in North America to produce brake
hose assemblies and has appointed a sales and marketing manager for the new
group.
    "Being invited to bid on this large, multi-million dollar project
demonstrates that our customers value Freudenberg-NOK's core competency in
rubber technology and European leadership in production of brake hose
assemblies, and they want us to apply this expertise in the North American
market," said John S. VanAlstyne, Freudenberg-NOK vice president and general
manager - New Business Development.
    "Expanding into the brake hose business is a natural step for us, because
of our expertise and global synergy.  Our partner -- Freudenberg and Co. --
has been producing brake hose assemblies for more than 25 years and has won 30
percent of the European market," he said.  "Clearly, customers recognize how
the combination of our technological expertise, global reach, and the quality
and cost benefits of our lean systems can help them."
     According to VanAlstyne, operations are being established in anticipation
of future production contracts for brake hose assemblies -- flexible rubber
hoses with metallic fittings mechanically attached -- which are used on
hydraulic braking systems.  The Freudenberg and NOK Group already provides
complete sealing packages for brake systems.
    In conjunction with the creation of this new North American operation --
which is part of Freudenberg-NOK's recently established New Business
Development Group -- the company has named Stephen H. Morgan as sales and
marketing manager for the brake hose business.  He will be responsible for
managing all commercial activities for brake hose assemblies with initial
focus on establishing Freudenberg-NOK as a major supplier of this product line
in North America.
    Morgan has 11 years of experience in automotive braking systems.  Most
recently, he was manager of original equipment sales at Akebono America -- a
major global supplier of brake system components -- in Farmington Hills, Mich.
Prior to joining Akebono's North American operations, he spent five years as
international operations coordinator at Akebono Japan in Tokyo.
    Morgan earned a bachelor of arts and sciences degree from Western Michigan
University in Kalamazoo, Mich., and a master of arts degree from Syracuse
University in New York.
    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 sealing packages
for transmissions, engines, brakes, axles and steering, NVH (noise, vibration
and harshness) components and packages, 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.