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Freudenberg-NOK Joins Covisint Trade Exchange

14 August 2000

    PLYMOUTH, Mich. - Freudenberg-NOK, together with the Freudenberg and NOK 
Group, announced today that it has decided to participate in Covisint, the 
global automotive internet business-to-business exchange being planned by Ford, 
DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, Renault and Nissan.

    "Through our decision to participate in Covisint in the early stages of
development, we are demonstrating our dedication to e-commerce initiatives,
recognizing that tangible benefits can be generated throughout the supply
chain by streamlining processes in collaborative product development, supply
chain management and procurement," said Sallianne W. Williams, vice president
- automotive e-commerce for Freudenberg-NOK.

    "In keeping with our emphasis on lean systems, we plan to utilize this
exchange to provide a platform to drive increased speed and efficiency through
our business transactions from our customers to our suppliers," she said.
"The key will be common information communication standards and infrastructure."

    As a supplier advisor to Covisint, Freudenberg-NOK will provide feedback
on Covisint's web-based products and tools to streamline information flow,
business processes and inter-business transactions within the entire
automotive supply chain.

    Freudenberg-NOK plans to use Covisint as its principal automotive exchange
for conducting e-business transactions and will integrate it into its internal
web program, called WITTH, which was launched earlier this year.  Through
WITTH (Web Interactivity Through Team Harmony), Freudenberg-NOK is creating a
complete and interactive web offering that provides pricing, order tracking,
necessary product stock information and distributor links for its automotive
and industrial customers and suppliers.

    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 15 largest OEM automotive suppliers (per Crain's Detroit
Business) 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
(according to Automotive News).

    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.