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Orbital Wins the Institution of Engineers Australia, 1999 Engineering Excellence Award

8 September 1999

Orbital Wins the Institution of Engineers Australia, 1999 Engineering Excellence Award

    PERTH, Australia, Sept. 8 -- The Orbital Engine Corporation
Limited announced today that it has been awarded the 1999
Engineering Excellence Award by the Institution of Engineers Australia
(WA Division) for its entry:

             The Genesis 2-Stroke Engine, 100 Vehicle Fleet Trial

    This prestigious award crowns the highly successful completion of over
5.2 million kilometres of infield operation of 100 Orbital ECOsport vehicles
fitted with the innovative Orbital Combustion Process (OCP) 2-stroke
automotive engine.  These trials have been conducted in cooperation with
various Australian Government Departments, a national car rental fleet in the
Northern Territory, a large percentage of private buyers spread throughout
Australia, and with selected customers dispersed around the globe.
    In addition to being awarded the overall Australia Award (WA Division)
from a total of 34 entries, Orbital also won its own particular category:
Products and Manufacturing.
    Presenting the awards, the Honourable Richard Court, Premier of Western
Australia, said, "There's little doubt that the engineering sector continues
to make a valuable contribution to the skill profile of the WA workforce and
the development of new technology."
    Mr. Ross Kelly, Chairman of the Orbital Engine Corporation, in response
acknowledged the honour of being picked out from a diverse field of highly
commendable endeavours:  "It is particularly satisfying to receive such
recognition and acclaim from peers in the engineering industry."
    The Genesis OCP 2-stroke engine can be produced at up to 30% less cost
than an equivalent performance conventional 4-stroke engine due to the
potential of 40% parts reduction, and 30% lighter weight.  Such benefits allow
substantial reductions in fuel consumption, further reducing the production of
carbon monoxide, a major contributor to greenhouse gases.
    On the heels of the Genesis Fleet Project, Texmaco Perkasa Engineering
Tbk, a leading company incorporated in the Republic of Indonesia is already
substantially down the path of industrialising the Genesis engine, following
the announcement of it licensing OCP technology from Orbital last December.
Texmaco are very active with numerous manufacturing trials on multiple engine
components including: building tooling, trial castings, block plating, etc. as
well as extensive global sourcing activity.
    The receipt of the Institution of Engineers Engineering 1999 Excellence
Award follows previous accolades for the Genesis 2-Stroke Engine and Fleet
Trial, including:

    Engine Technology International: Engines of the Year, Annual Review 1998,
Innovation category...
    "Orbital's two-stroke gasoline motor is a little gem.  Regular readers
will know that the Ford Festiva houses a 1.2 Litre three-cylinder 56 kW unit
that wowed us with its refinement, speed and fuel economy," Graham Johnson,
Editor of Engine Technology International, Annual Review 1998, December 1998.

    The Far Eastern Economic Review, Asian Innovation Awards 1998 (Bronze
Award)...
    "The Orbital Combustion Process is an innovative, low cost method of
injecting a highly atomised fuel directly into the combustion chamber of a
two-stroke engine for an efficient, environmentally friendly burning of fuel,"
Merle Lina Wolin, Far Eastern Economic Review, 22 October 1998.

    The Society of Automotive Engineers, Australasia, Automotive Excellence
1996 (Bronze Award)...
    "We certainly feel very proud to have members of our society excel in
innovation and technology for the overall benefit and growth of the Australian
automotive industry," Society of Automotive Engineers Australasia, 15 Nov.
1996.

    And the Michelin Bibendum Challenge in September 1998...
    "A rally to bring home to the public just how much progress the new
generation of cars are contributing..." and "to prove that these innovations
are reliable and that the performances are compatible with today's
requirements of safety, economy, space-saving, simplicity of use and comfort
and that they will keep air pollution and noise to a minimum," taken from
Michelin participation literature, March 1998.

    Orbital is a leading international developer of engine technologies using
direct in-cylinder fuel injection and lean burn systems for enhanced fuel
economy and lower emissions.  The company serves the worldwide automobile,
marine, recreational and motorcycle markets.  Headquartered in Perth, Western
Australia, Orbital stock is traded on the Australian (OEC), New York (OE),
Berlin (ORE) and Frankfurt (OREA) Stock Exchanges.