AMI DODUCO Team Finds Lower-Cost Alternative to Relay Contacts

4 May 2000

AMI DODUCO Team Finds Lower-Cost Alternative to Palladium-based Relay Contacts

    PFORZHEIM, Germany--May 3, 2000--Researchers at AMI DODUCO, a Technitrol Company (NYSE: TNL) have identified and successfully tested lower-cost substitutes for palladium alloys used in automotive flasher relays.
    Their research, presented at this year's 48th International Relay Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, investigated the feasibility of modifying more conventional contact materials for the same application.
    Flasher relays control a vehicle's turn signals and emergency lights. These contacts must meet extremely high endurance standards to accommodate the frequent making and breaking of electrical circuits as the lights flash on and off. Palladium, typically used in this application, has nearly tripled in price over the past three years, driving the price of flasher relays significantly higher.
    Less costly contact materials such as silver nickel oxide and silver tin oxide used in other automotive relay applications fall short of the endurance requirements for flashers. The research investigated whether various doping agents could improve the endurance of these materials without adding significant cost. The authors found several doped silver alloys able to pass endurance tests for flasher applications.
    "Our automotive relay customers face intense cost pressure in today's markets," said Volker Behrens, Ph.D., Director of Research and Development at AMI DODUCO - Europe. "The prospect of finding new alternatives to help customers lower their costs is exciting."
    In addition to Behrens, authors of the paper, titled "Substitute for Palladium Copper in DC Flasher Relays," were AMI DODUCO's Thomas Honig and Andreas Kraus, along with Thomas J. Schoepf, Ph.D.
    Headquartered in Export, Pennsylvania, AMI DODUCO, a Technitrol Company (NYSE: TNL) is a global leader in electrical contacts. The company supplies contacts and assemblies, contact materials, thermostatic and laminated metal products, electroplating and surface treatment services, and precious metal refining and recycling to more than 3,000 customers. AMI DODUCO operates from 14 locations worldwide. Its Web site is http://www.amidoduco.com.

    Cautionary Note: This message contains "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially. This release should be read in conjunction with the factors set forth in Technitrol's report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 in Item 1 under the caption "Factors that May Affect Our Future Results (Cautionary Statements for Purposes of the 'Safe Harbor' Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995)."