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Advance Assembly Group Systems and Air Gage to Merge Manufacturing Operations

1 September 1999

Advance Assembly Group Systems and Air Gage to Merge Manufacturing Operations

    FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Aug. 31 -- Advanced Assembly Group
(AAG), which operates two facilities in metropolitan Detroit, will merge its
systems assembly capabilities with the manufacturing functions of its sister
company Air Gage in Livonia.  AAG and Air Gage are among four Michigan-based
divisions of Advanced Industrial Technologies, formerly known as GSE, Inc.
    Assembly of customized fastening and anti-lock brake testing systems,
currently performed by AAG's Systems Technical Center in Rochester Hills, will
be integrated late this fall with the manufacturing operations at Air Gage.
AAG's fastening and ABS testing systems are installed in automotive
manufacturing plants throughout North America.  Air Gage is a supplier of
pre-production specialty gauges and gauging systems to the automotive
industry.
    AAG will keep manufacturing of its standard products -- electric fastening
tools and torque measuring instruments -- in Farmington Hills.  Electric
nutrunners manufactured by AAG under the tech-motive tool name are used
worldwide to tighten threaded fasteners on automotive, off-highway vehicle and
aerospace components.  AAG opened its Rochester Hills facility in November
1997 to meet burgeoning demand for multiple-tool fastening systems on
automotive assembly lines.  AAG also manufactures torque measuring sensors and
instruments under the GSE brand name.
    "We are being proactive in leveraging the systems manufacturing synergies
of AAG and Air Gage to strengthen AAG's image as a world class automotive
supplier," Anders Hoberg, vice president of AAG Sales and Marketing said.  "We
are committed to delivering in a timely and cost-effective manner high-quality
fastening systems that consistently meet our customers' specific requirements.
Air Gage has an extraordinary reputation for responding to custom requests
that will benefit AAG's systems business."
    The building in Rochester Hills houses AAG sales, marketing, and
administrative employees as well as systems engineering and assembly
personnel.  These employees will be relocated to Livonia and Farmington Hills.
    In addition to AAG and Air Gage, AIT operates two other divisions in
Michigan -- GSE Scales Systems in Farmington Hills and Great Lakes-Eglinton in
Bridgeport.  AIT is owned by the $2.5 billion manufacturing conglomerate
United Dominion Industries (UDI) based in Charlotte, N.C.