---

The Haartz Corp. Receives Contract to Produce Recyclable TPO Coverskin

3 September 1999

The Haartz Corp. Receives Contract to Produce Recyclable TPO Coverskin for the Instrument Panel of a 2001 Vehicle

    BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., Sept. 2 -- The Haartz Corp.
announced today that it was awarded a contract to provide thermoplastic olefin
(TPO) skin and related materials to Visteon Automotive Systems for the
instrument panel of a 2001 model year vehicle.
    According to Tim Jackson, Haartz director of automotive sales - interiors,
the company will supply a TPO coverstock as well as polypropylene foam
laminate materials to Visteon, which will produce the instrument panel for the
vehicle.
    Visteon is using a unique in-mold decorating process to manufacture the
instrument panel.
    "We are extremely proud to partner with Visteon on this next-generation
instrument panel, which combines plastics from the same family into a fully
recyclable unit," Jackson said.  "The result is a lightweight instrument panel
which offers enhanced long-term weatherability, reduced fogging and lower
overall costs."
    Haartz, a tier-two automotive supplier based in Acton, Mass., offers a
broad portfolio of TPO and polyvinylchloride (PVC) interior-trim materials for
molded instrument panels, door panels and consoles.
    Further strengthening its capabilities of supplying customers worldwide
with this environmentally friendly material for automotive interiors, Haartz
recently developed a new TPO processing technology, as well as invested $7
million to expand its manufacturing plant and to add new equipment that will
be dedicated exclusively to olefin extrusion.
    A leader in TPO research, Haartz maintains a business and technical
alliance with Paris, France-based Establissements Treves, to drive the design
and development of TPO foam composites, TPO sheet and other materials for auto
interiors.
    Haartz -- a leading manufacturer of engineered-coated materials for the
U.S. and European markets -- has its corporate and manufacturing headquarters
and a research and development center in Acton, Mass., as well as sales
offices around the world, including an automotive sales office in Bloomfield
Hills, Mich.
    A supplier to the auto industry since 1907, Haartz offers major tier-one
automotive suppliers in North America a broad array of PVC and TPO interior-
trim materials for molded instrument panels, door panels and consoles.  The
privately owned company, which employs 340 people and had sales of nearly $100
million in 1998, also supplies convertible topping fabrics worldwide.