Freudenberg and NOK Seen as Largest Non-Tire Rubber Product Manufacturer

    PLYMOUTH, Mich., Aug. 16 Freudenberg & Co. of Germany and
NOK Corp. of Japan were recently ranked third and seventh, respectively, in
global non-tire rubber product sales by the trade publication Rubber &
Plastics News.  Their partnership in the Americas, Freudenberg-NOK G.P., was
ranked as the fifth largest non-tire rubber product manufacturer in North
America with sales of nearly $1 billion in 2000.  Together, the three
Freudenberg and NOK Group Companies constitute the largest non-tire rubber
product manufacturer in the world.

    "This leadership position, coming primarily through organic growth,
demonstrates that our customers value our Technology Specialist status in the
automotive sealing, vibration control and precision molding arena," said
Joseph C. Day, Freudenberg-NOK Chairman and CEO.  "We hope to maintain this
growth by deepening our focus on elastomeric technologies and by expanding our
pursuit of perfection through lean systems and Six Sigma ... thereby helping
our automotive customers to reduce warranty costs and build consumer loyalty."

    The Freudenberg and NOK Group produces more than 10 billion rubber
components annually worldwide, with more than 85 percent of those components
produced in lean, robust one-piece flow processes.  Serving its customers as a
Technology Specialist, the group holds more patents in its product areas --
automotive sealing, vibration control and precision-molded components for
drivetrain and chassis applications -- than any other automotive supplier.

    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 17 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
25,000 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.  For more information, visit the Freudenberg-NOK web site at
http://www.freudenberg-nok.com .