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Williams Controls Positioned for Strong Growth in Automotive ETC

20 October 2000

Williams Controls Positioned for Strong Growth in Automotive ETC As its Fourth Facility Attains QS-9000

    PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 19 Williams Controls, Inc.
announced that a fourth manufacturing facility, the company's
Sarasota Pedal Plant, has achieved QS-9000 certification, positioning the
company for its expected growth in the manufacture of electronic throttle
controls (ETCs) for the automotive and light truck markets.
    "The QS-9000 award is a key component in Williams Controls' drive to be
the leader in automotive and light truck ETCs, just as it leads the throttle
control market for heavy trucks," stated Williams Controls chairman and CEO
Thomas W. Itin.  "In conjunction with the company's Aptek sensor manufacturing
operation, we are positioned to be a design leader in supplying a complete ETC
system to car and light truck manufacturers.  This system combines our new Low
Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) sensor, for which we have applied for
worldwide patent protection, with our proven ETC technology into a product
that offers extended reliability and product life expectancy."
    Mr. Itin continued, "As announced last week, we expect that by 2003 our
Sarasota Pedal Plant will be manufacturing over 1,500,000 ETC pedals annually
for automobile and light truck manufacturers, based on current contracts
awarded to us, with this business all having been developed in the last 18
months.  We expect to see continued strong growth in this segment of the
market, in addition to producing the ETC programs that the company has in
place for its traditional heavy and medium duty truck, bus and off-highway
markets."
    The Sarasota pedal plant was certified for QS-9000 Third Edition, which
carries the most stringent of all QS-9000 quality system requirements.  This
certification is awarded to automotive and truck suppliers that complete a
rigorous operational review in order to implement a quality process within
their organization.  QS-9000 provides for continuous improvement, emphasizing
defect prevention and reducing process variation and waste.
    "The Sarasota facility began this process only eight months ago and
finished ahead of our own internal schedule," stated Mr. Itin.  "To complete
this process within such a short time frame required a total team effort and
commitment to manufacturing excellence from every person within the Sarasota
Pedal Plant, led by Ron Velat, our Vice President of Sensor Engineering and
Operations in Florida."
    Mr. Itin concluded, "Having our four principal manufacturing facilities
certified for QS-9000 is a clear signal to our customers and prospects in the
automotive, light truck and heavy truck markets that we are an organization
focused on quality through the use of world-class manufacturing techniques."