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Freudenberg-NOK Donates CAD Workstations To the University of Massachusetts Lowell

7 June 2000

Freudenberg-NOK Donates CAD Workstations To the University of Massachusetts Lowell

    PLYMOUTH, Mich. - Underscoring its commitment to education, Freudenberg-NOK 
together with Unigraphics Solutions has donated 20 computer-aided design 
workstations, a server and related software to the University of Massachusetts 
Lowell for use in its Plastics Engineering Department, which conducts research 
and educational studies for industry.

    The CAD workstations, used to design product and molds for injection
molding and other plastic manufacturing processes, will be utilized by the
students of the engineering department.

    "We were very pleased that the University of Massachusetts Lowell and its
engineering students will benefit from the donation of the CAD workstations
and server," said Joseph C. Day, Chairman & CEO for Freudenberg-NOK.
"Freudenberg-NOK is committed to driving the development of technology and
tomorrow's technical specialists.  We want to ensure that there is a steady
supply of graduates who have practical, hands-on knowledge in the plastics and
elastomers industry."

    Freudenberg-NOK purchased these CAD workstations for nearly $500,000 in
1995 and until recently they had been used at several of the company's North
American facilities.  Although the workstations no longer possessed the
capabilities required for Freudenberg-NOK's advanced design needs, they will
meet the student's requirements.

    "We are very grateful to Freudenberg-NOK for its generous hardware
donation," said Krishna Vedula, Dean of Engineering at the University of
Massachusetts Lowell.  "It will be put to good use as our students prepare for
careers in plastics engineering."

    This donation continues an ongoing relationship between Freudenberg-NOK
and the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

    Last year, Freudenberg-NOK donated $250,000 to the University of
Massachusetts Lowell to sponsor a professorship for its new elastomer program
and established 12 scholar-internships for engineering education.  In 1996,
the company made the lead corporate donation to establish the National
Elastomer Center at Ferris State University in Michigan.

    Plymouth, Mich.-based Freudenberg-NOK is part of the Freudenberg and NOK
Group Companies, which have total annual sales of nearly $7 billion.  With
global automotive sales of approximately $4 billion, the Freudenberg and NOK
Group ranks among the world's top 20 automotive suppliers and is one of only
eight in the top 100 that has global balance in each of the three major
automotive markets -- Asia, Europe and North America.

    Through a global network of facilities spanning 27 countries with some
23,000 automotive employees worldwide, the supplier group offers its
automotive customers globally integrated products, including sealing packages
for transmissions, engines, brakes, axles and steering, NVH (noise, vibration
and harshness) components and packages, and all rubber, plastic and PTFE
components for suspension, electrical and fuel systems.
 
    The Freudenberg and NOK Group also offers an extensive portfolio of
precision-molded products for the aerospace, appliance, business machine,
fluid power, marine, medical, off-highway equipment and recreational vehicle
markets.