CORUS EUROPRESSINGS WINS TENNECO EXHAUST CONTRACT
11 October 2005 - Corus

Corus, one of the world's leading steel producers, has announced that Europressings, its specialist metal pressings and sub-assemblies business, has won a contract to supply Tenneco Automotive with key exhaust parts for the Vauxhall Vectra.

The new contract will see Corus Europressings, based in South Wales, supply five pressed parts for the Vectra's exhaust including the end plates and baffles direct to Tenneco's Tredegar plant where the complete exhaust system is assembled for GM. The expected 250,000 units per year will be pressed using Corus' fully automated progression press and robotic transfer lines, which now boast new tooling required to press the intricate exhaust parts.

Commenting on how the company's experience across a wide range of industries including consumer electronics and domestic appliances that has helped Corus win an increasing number of automotive contracts from companies such as Tenneco, Helen Raven, business development manager, Corus Europressings said: "We are seeing an increasing trend from automotive component manufacturers and OEM's to outsource specialist press shop work for cosmetically or dimensionally critical parts. With nearly twenty years' experience in delivering high quality parts to blue chip consumer companies such as Panasonic and Indesit, we have built up a unique expertise and are in a strong position to help meet the changing requirements of the automotive industry."

Corus Europressings already supplies precision pressed components to a number of other leading automotive companies including, Keiper and Swindon Pressings. Mrs Raven adds: "We are confident that our automotive business especially in areas such as exhaust and seating systems will continue to grow and predict that by 2006 it will represent over 60 per cent of our turnover."

The on-going investment by Corus has resulted in its Europressings business being able to boast highly robotised and automated press lines. "Removing the manual processes is an important step in improving the quality of the parts we supply", said Mrs Raven. "The use of robotics will ensure consistency and repeatability of the parts we supply Tenneco and high levels of automation will speed up systems and improve throughput, helping to take cost out of the manufacturing process."

Commenting on awarding the contract to Corus Europressings, Ian Richards, plant manager, Tenneco Tredegar said: "Not only were we confident that Corus had the specific press shop expertise to produce the complicated end plates and baffles for the Vectra exhaust system, but we also recognised that they had the systems in place to ensure consistent daily delivery of high quality parts to meet our specific production schedules."

Underlining the company's commitment to grow its automotive business, Corus Europressings has achieved certification to the ISO/TS 16949 quality approval standard. Aimed primarily at tier one suppliers ISO/TS 16949 is a technical specification developed and supported by vehicle manufacturers in Europe, America and Japan and will help define quality system requirements for the global automotive supply chain. Europressings has also achieved business accreditation to the International Safety Rating Standard, level 4 (ISRS).

http://www.corusgroup.com

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