GKN Sinter Metals Named John Deere Division Supplier of the Year

GKN SINTER METALS NAMED JOHN DEERE DIVISION SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR – 01/11/2005

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – GKN Sinter Metals has been named Deere & Company’s Commercial and Consumer Equipment Division Supplier of the Year for 2004 and - for the third consecutive year - has earned recognition as a “Partner-level supplier” in the John Deere Achieving Excellence Program.

GKN Sinter Metals' Kersey, Penn., facility’s performance was rated the best of all the direct material suppliers to John Deere’s Commercial and Consumer Equipment Division. GKN’s commitment to Six-Sigma process improvement resulted in near-perfect quality and delivery to John Deere factories in 2004.

The “Partner-level” status is Deere & Company’s highest supplier rating. The Auburn Hills-based company was selected for the honor in recognition of its dedication to providing products and service of outstanding quality as well as its commitment to continuous improvement.

Dr. Utpaul Gangopadhyay, GKN Sinter Metal’s Director of Product Engineering and Sales, Industrial Products Group, said he is proud of the Kersey team’s accomplishment. “Being named the best supplier for a company like John Deere is not an easy task. They expect a great deal from their suppliers, and our employees work diligently every day to make sure they get it.”

GKN Sinter Metals supplies John Deere facilities in Horicon, Wisc., Fuquay-Varina, NC, Augusta, Ga., and Greeneville, Tenn., with steering sector gears, PTO arms, cruise control latches, pinion gears, bearings, bushings, blade adaptors and spindle components for riding lawn mowers. Kersey employees will be formally honored with the recognition during Deere’s annual supplier award ceremonies in Davenport, Iowa, in March.

Suppliers who participate in John Deere’s Achieving Excellence program are evaluated annually in several key performance categories, including quality, cost management, delivery, technical support and wavelength, which is a measure of responsiveness. John Deere Supply Management created the program in 1991 to provide a supplier evaluation and feedback process that promotes continuous improvement.

GKN Sinter Metals, with more than 30 locations worldwide and business assets spanning 13 countries and five continents, has annual sales of approximately $850 million and is the world’s leading producer of powder metal components. The company employs some 7,000 people and produces more than 10,000 different parts for the lawn & garden, home appliance, office equipment, power tool, recreational vehicle, automotive and commercial vehicle markets. GKN Sinter Metals is a wholly owned subsidiary of U.K.-based GKN plc, a global industrial company.