World's Leading Producer of Powder Metal (P/M) Components Now Producing
Some 15,000 Different Parts, Shipping 2.8 Billion Total Units on Annual Basis

             '02 Technology Goals Include Further Simplification
                  And Streamlining of P/M Production Process

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Approximately 300 new product
launches are scheduled today at GKN Sinter Metals facilities for 2002,
including 80 engine and transmission components, 36 body & chassis components,
and 30 parts for hydraulic applications.
    Since 1998, GKN Sinter Metals has increased its base of business from
roughly 3,800 to 4,300 customers, and has increased its annual part shipments
from 1.2 billion to 2.8 billion units.  The world's leading producer of powder
metal (P/M) components now manufactures some 15,000 different parts, up from
3,000 just three years ago.
    Having grown primarily through a series of acquisitions, the company last
year began to pick up its pace for completing the integration of acquired
operations, upgrading facilities, and bringing its vast technological
resources to bear on its manufacturing processes and program development.
    According to Donald J. Spence, Jr., who became GKN Sinter Metals'
President & CEO late last year:  "All our efforts, now, are geared toward
focusing on our customers -- from R&D, design engineering and testing ... to
sales & marketing, production and delivery.  Of particular importance are the
continued simplification and streamlining of our P/M production process," said
Mr. Spence, "so that we can continue to bring to our customers the broadest
range of high-quality components at competitive prices."
    Specific to the P/M production process, GKN Sinter Metals' Technology
Group has been working to reduce the number of powder blends the company uses;
further standardize design and tool production; continue conversion of
selected sintering atmospheres to a single, optimal atmosphere; increase
automation in sizing operations, and undertake additional technical
improvements to secondary operations.
    Manfred Weber, Senior Vice President, Technology, said that his team would
continue to refine the company's work in such areas as warm compaction and
green machining, sinter brazing, dry turning, and resonance inspection.  Said
Dr. Weber:  "Our objective is to have the most robust processes in the
industry in order to provide customers with the best metal forming option in
the market."
    GKN Sinter Metals, with some 40 locations worldwide and business assets
spanning 13 countries and five continents, has annualized sales in excess of
$800 million and is the world's leading producer of powder metal components.
The Company employs some 7,000 people and produces close to 15,000 different
parts for the automotive, commercial vehicle, home appliance, lawn & garden,
office equipment, power tool, and recreational vehicle markets.  GKN Sinter
Metals is a wholly owned subsidiary of U.K.-based GKN plc, a global
engineering company focused on the automotive, aerospace, and related
industries.

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