30th March 2005 - Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems North American Operations Achieve World-Class Safety Rating for Second Straight Year

Bendix Retains ISO Certifications for Environmental and Quality Standards

Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, a world leader in commercial vehicle safety and braking system technologies, achieved world-class safety levels at its North American operations in 2004 for the second consecutive year, exceeding industry benchmarks in reduced recordable injury rates and lost workday incident rates.

In addition, its manufacturing and distribution centers earned ISO 14001:2004 and ISO/TS 16949 certifications for complying with industry standards in environmental management and quality systems.

“Our name and our products promote the very concept of safety within the marketplace. It’s our reputation, and we carry this belief across our entire operations,” said Terry Fleet, director, operations engineering and safety, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems. “For the second straight year, we achieved a world-class safety performance that can only be reached through a total commitment from everyone in the Bendix organization.”

Workplace safety is measured annually in both Total Case Incident Rate (TCIR) and Lost Workday Case Incident Rate (LWDCIR). TCIR is the average number of work-related injuries incurred per 100 workers per year. Health, safety and ergonomics professionals use TCIR as a common way to report workplace injuries and compare accident and injury statistics across industries and specific measurement periods.

Premier companies around the globe operate at safety performance levels at or below 1.0 TCIR and 0.1 LWDCIR per 100 employees annually, according to Bendix benchmarking studies. In 2004, Bendix finished at 0.74 TCIR in recordable incidents per 100 employees, plus it completed the year at 0.09 lost workday incidents compared to industry benchmarks of 0.1.

In addition to manufacturing plants in Acuña, Mexico, Frankfort, Ky., and Huntington, Ind., Bendix has distribution centers located in Sparks, Nev., Montreal and Mexico City.

Bendix Renews Key ISO Certifications

Bendix obtained ISO 14001:2004 certification, an environmental management recognition given to companies that minimize environmental impact caused by its activities, and achieve continual improvement of its environmental performance.

ISO 14001:2004 certification is the culmination of a rigorous process that includes documenting every aspect of how a facility manages its various environmental systems, such as water usage, energy resources, waste generation, etc. Bendix went a step further by including documentation on its health and safety processes, as well. To maintain the certification, ISO-registered third party organizations perform periodic audits to ensure all processes are being followed per the documentation.

Fleet commented that the activities surrounding the ISO 14001:2004 certification not only helped provide Bendix with the ongoing information necessary to implement programs aimed at reducing the company’s overall impact on the environment, but it also helped further enhance the company’s drive to be a good corporate citizen.

Bendix also recently achieved ISO/TS16949 certification, a widely recognized quality management system standard used in the automotive industry. ISO/TS 16949 specifies the quality management system requirements for the design/development, production, installation and servicing of products in automotive-related businesses. In addition, there is a strong focus on customer-specific requirements that are required by vehicle manufacturers.

“Quality Management Systems, which is the foundation of all certification processes, was instrumental in Bendix setting a new company record for external customer quality levels in 2004,” said Ralph Dominguez, quality manager, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems.

Dominguez noted that ISO/TS16949 certification is an important prerequisite for doing business with many OEMs globally. “This certification signals our continued commitment to adhere to the meticulous and exacting standards set forth by world-class automotive suppliers,” he said.

About Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC

Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, a member of the Knorr-Bremse Group, supplies air brake charging and control systems and components, wheel-end brake and electronic braking systems, vehicle modules and leading-edge safety technologies under the BendixÒ brand name for medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks, tractors, trailers, buses and other commercial vehicles. Employing more than 1,800 people, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems is headquartered in Elyria, Ohio, with manufacturing plants in Acuña, Mexico, Frankfort, Ky., and Huntington, Ind. For more information, call 1-800-AIR-BRAKE (1-800-247-2725) or visit www.bendix.com

Source: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems Press Release