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Johnson Electric Establishes Automotive Unit in Michigan

1 June 2000

Johnson Electric Establishes Automotive Unit in Michigan

    PLYMOUTH, Mich., June 1 Johnson Electric, a world leading
supplier of micro-motors and integrated motor systems to the automotive
industry, is now calling Plymouth, Mich., its home.  The new Plymouth facility
is North American headquarters for Johnson Electric's automotive motors
division as well as its Gate division.  Gate specializes in radiator cooling
fan modules (CFM) while the Johnson Electric unit focuses on motors for
applications such as window lifts, door locks, fuel pumps, anti-lock braking
systems (ABS) and windshield wiper systems for trucks and buses.
    The 32,000 square foot facility houses 100 people, including Design
Engineering, Program Management, Quality Assurance and Sales.  The Plymouth
staff provides collaborative design support and service to all of Johnson's
automotive customers in North America.
    The Plymouth facility is ISO 9000 and QS-9000 certified and also houses an
extensive testing and quality control laboratory.  The lab contains an
environmental chamber, a materials lab, a sound chamber, a reverberation room,
a computer control testing center, and a machine shop for engineering
prototyping.  Engineering laboratory support also is provided to the Johnson
Electric manufacturing sites in Matamoros, Mexico and Columbus, Mississippi.
    "Centralizing our staff on one site is part of Johnson Electric's strategy
to enhance the customer experience at all stages of the design cycle,"
according to Roger Baines, executive vice president.  "Supplier and customer
collaboration in product design is becoming more important in the automotive
industry."
    Gate, headquartered in Asti, Italy, is the leading producer of automotive
radiator cooling fan modules in Europe, South America and China.  Gate has
major facilities in Italy, France, Spain, UK, China, Argentina and Brazil.
Johnson Electric Automotive Motors and Gate were previously part of Electric
Motor Systems, a business formerly owned by UT Automotive, which Johnson
Electric acquired from Lear in May 1999.
    The Johnson Electric Group is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange and
is part of the Hang Seng index.  Johnson Electric directly employs over 23,000
people in 14 countries, with the majority of the workforce engaged in
production activities in China, Thailand, Mexico, Italy and the USA.  Major
engineering and design centers are located in Hong Kong, Italy, Germany, USA
and China.  The Johnson Electric Group provides world class micro motors and
integrated motor systems to global customers in the multimedia, business
equipment, power tools, home appliance, personal care and automotive
industries.  The Johnson Electric Group's QS-9000 and ISO 9000 certified
facilities around the world manufacture products that exceed the most
demanding reliability and safety requirements including UL, CE and VDE.
    For additional information on Johnson Electric or Gate, please visit
Johnson Electric's web site at http://www.johnsonmotor.com