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Lord Corporation Purchased Italy's Metal Gomma S.p.A

8 March 2000

Lord Corporation Purchased Italy's Metal Gomma S.p.A

    CARY, N.C., March 7 Lord Corporation, Cary, NC, completed
the purchase of Metal Gomma S.p.A of Monzambano, Italy for an undisclosed sum.
Metal Gomma, ISO 9000 certified, is a supplier of technical rubber products
with sales of approximately 11 million Euro and has 85 employees.  Lord
Corporation started its partnership with Metalgomma in 1993 with a strategic
industrial alliance; purchased an equity position in Metal Gomma in 1998 and
today's purchase completes the transition to 100% ownership of the firm.
    Thomas J. Loftus, Sr. Vice-President and General Manager of the Mechanical
Products Division said, "The purchase of Metal Gomma is consistent with our
plans for worldwide manufacturing of our Industrial vibration/shock and noise
control products and systems.  Metal Gomma gives us a manufacturing and
engineering base in Europe and will enable us to provide a local source of
supply of our growing Industrial business in Europe.  Our intent is to provide
Metal Gomma with additional sales and technical support to facilitate
increased sales growth.  We believe there are a number of new markets that we
will be able to open as we begin to transfer additional technology to the new
acquisition."
    The Metal Gomma business will become a part of the existing Mechanical
Products Division Europe organization, reporting to Michel Froidevaux,
General Manager, MPD Europe.  Given the successful history of the relationship
for many years, the previous owners of Metal Gomma will continue with the
company as directors to insure continuity of the business.  The Metal Gomma
company name will continue for a period of time and then be changed to Lord
Metal Gomma.
    Lord Corporation is a $420 mm privately held diversified company that
designs, formulates, manufacturers and markets adhesives, polyurethane
coatings, a variety of electronic adhesives and coating, devices and systems
to manage mechanical motion and control noise, and designs and manufacturers
products and system utilizing magneto-rheological (MR) fluids.  Lord has three
major operating divisions, Chemical Products Division, Mechanical Products
Division, and Material Division.  The Corporation has plants in 7 states and
has facilities/operations in 10 countries and employees over 2200 worldwide.
World headquarters is in Cary, NC.