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TI Group Launches New Global Test Group In Auburn Hills Michigan

19 September 2000

TI Group Automotive Systems Launches New Global Test Group In Auburn Hills Michigan

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Sept. 19 TI Group Automotive Systems
has launched a new Global Test Group in ceremonies at its technology center
here.
    The new organization unites the company's testing and validation
capabilities at locations in Auburn Hills, Warren, and Caro, Michigan and
Rastatt, Germany.
    Joe Roznowski was named director of the new Global Test Group (GTG) and
will be based at the Auburn Hills center.  He joined TI Automotive in
February, 2000, after serving as director of engineering services at Breed
Technologies.  Previously he worked for General Motors and XYTEK industries in
Detroit.
    "With this network of global technology centers, TI Automotive has the
most advanced technical capabilities available in the world today for
developing and testing complete vehicle fuel storage and delivery systems and
fluid handling components," said Ron McIntosh, TI Automotive's global
technology director.
    "Our new Global Test Group has the state-of-the-art skills and equipment
necessary to serve our automotive customers more efficiently," he declared.
"It will enable us to share best practices and consolidate equipment and
materials to reduce our costs and expand our capabilities and services for our
customers."
    "We inaugurated the Global Test Group with a 'ribbon tying' ceremony,"
McIntosh said.  "Reversing the traditional ribbon cutting symbolizes our
capability to use the resources of all four centers to serve our customers."
    Employees of the four Michigan centers participated in the ceremonies,
joined by staff of the German center through a satellite video transmission.
    Other TI Automotive executives participating included Jim Davis, president
of TI Automotive North America; Dan Cook, global commercial director; Tom
Mathues, vice-president of advanced technology; Mark Lockwood, president,
Testing Services Group (TSG); David Salva, manager of the Auburn Hills Test
Center; Michael Reeder, manager of the Caro Test Center; John Beaufait,
manager of the Warren Test Center, and via satellite, Dirk Blomberg, Team
Leader at the Rastatt Test Center.
    "The Global Test Group (GTG) has comprehensive capabilities to test entire
vehicles, systems, sub-systems, or individual components to any worldwide
standard," Roznowski noted.
    Test equipment at the 50,000-square-foot Auburn Hills facility is valued
at $30 million and includes the latest generation SHED facilities for
emissions testing, identical to those of regulatory agencies.  Also, chassis
dynamometers capable of testing at extreme hot and cold temperatures, fuel
endurance laboratory, environmental chambers, and a vehicle refueling
laboratory allowing development and verification of fuel tank filling
capabilities for virtually all the fuels and filling conditions in actual use
worldwide.
    The Caro Test Center focuses on component and subsystem testing, with
facilities including permeation, fuel endurance, analytical, and reliability
laboratories.  The Warren center supports testing and development of fluid
handling components for brake systems.  Similar capabilities at the TI
Automotive Technology Centre in Rastatt, Germany, serve the company's
customers in Europe.
    The Auburn Hills Test Centre was formerly the Systems Test Group (STG) of
the Walbro Corporation and operated as an independent laboratory also serving
outside customers.  Walbro was acquired in 1999 by TI Automotive's parent, the
UK-based TI Group plc, and combined with TI Group's Bundy unit to form
TI Group Automotive Systems.  In the future, the Global Test Group will serve
TI Automotive and its customers exclusively, Roznowski said.
    TI Group Automotive Systems is a $2.3 billion tier-one supplier of
automotive fluid handling systems, including brake, fuel, powertrain and
refrigeration systems.  The division has more than 20,000 employees at 150
facilities in 29 countries on six continents.