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Sverdrup Expands to Provide Asset Management of Test Facilities

9 March 2000

Sverdrup Technology, Inc. Expands Services to Provide Asset Management of Automotive Test Facilities

    DEARBORN, Mich., March 9 Sverdrup Technology, Inc., a
Jacobs Company, has expanded its range of services to include asset management
for automotive clients.  Lou Hickok, vice president of Sverdrup's Automotive
Operations segment, made the announcement.
    "Sverdrup's core business is testing," said Hickok.  "In serving our
automotive industry customers as their asset manager for test facilities and
systems, we will leverage our extensive asset management experience to
optimize facility use, increase facility flexibility and responsiveness while
reducing operational costs," Hickok said.  Sverdrup -- recognized as a world
leader in the design, construction and operation of high technology test
facilities -- provides comprehensive asset management services, including
operations, maintenance supervision, facility improvements and brokering of
facility test time for numerous government and commercial test facilities.
    Sverdrup's expansion of their asset management role provides access for
the automotive industry to an extensive knowledge and experience base.  "We
currently have more than 3000 personnel employed in asset management
throughout the world," said Hickok.  "As a result, we have in place
methodologies and processes to exchange information, establish metrics for
application of 'best practices' and proven procedures which make the expansion
of the asset management role seamless for the client."
    Sverdrup's first automotive market asset management venture was the soon-
to-be completed Driveability Test Facility (DTF) in Allen Park, Michigan.
This facility will provide automakers and their suppliers access to state-of-
the-art wind tunnels and other environmental simulation facilities.  After
commissioning, Sverdrup will manage all aspects of facility operations and
maintenance.  Ford Motor Company has arranged for a 10-year lease of the
facility, beginning immediately following commissioning.  This contract
provides Sverdrup the opportunity to broker open capacity at the facility when
available to a wide range of potential users.
    As a further venture into the asset management arena with Ford, Sverdrup
has been awarded asset management responsibility for four wind tunnels as well
as cold rooms in Dearborn.  These facilities, like those of the DTF, are
critical to the Ford Product Development System, and the award of this asset
management contract to Sverdrup allows both companies to focus on their core
businesses.  "The joint enterprise between Ford and Sverdrup will provide more
cost effective utilization of Ford's test resources to establish a new
paradigm for the industry," said Allen Ardinger, Sverdrup's Operations Manager
for the wind tunnels and cold rooms.
    "Sverdrup operations and management of these critical assets allow Ford to
take advantage of our core business expertise -- testing, while freeing Ford
and Ford resources to focus on the production of world-class automobiles."
Synergies such as scheduling, test vehicle movement and personnel distribution
are evident since Sverdrup's asset management responsibilities now will
encompass all of Ford's North American wind tunnels and cold rooms.
    This agreement may be one of the first within the 'Big Three' which calls
for an outside supplier to provide on-site testing and asset management
services in support of product development.
    Sverdrup Technology, headquartered in Tullahoma, Tenn., has a 50-year
heritage of managing large, high technology operations and maintenance and
engineering support workforces.  In addition, the company is a world leader in
the design/build of technical facilities.  Active in the automotive industry
for more than 30 years, Sverdrup Technology has completed hundreds of design
and design/build projects for domestic and international automotive
manufacturers and suppliers.  The Technology Group, the test facility
design/build/operate organization of the company, has offices in Michigan,
Tennessee and Virginia and project sites around the world.
    Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. is one of the world's largest providers of
professional technical services.  A $3 billion company, they offer full-
spectrum support to industrial, commercial, and government clients in diverse
markets.  Services include scientific and specialty consulting as well as all
aspects of project execution and operations & maintenance.