Ductile Iron News Briefs

Intermet Names New General Manager of Havana Foundry
Troy, Michigan, September 29, 1999 – Intermet Corporation announced earlier this week that Thomas E. Woehlke will replace Brian Schlump as general manager of the Intermet Havana Foundry in Havana, Illinois.

James F. Mason, Intermet group vice president, said Woehlke will be in charge of plant operations in Havana. "Tom is a fourth generation foundryman who brings over 30 years of foundry management experience to Intermet," said Mason. "He’s a good hands-on manager with a commitment to the industry."

Woehlke began his career at Grede Foundries, and later spent five years as vice president of manufacturing as Wells Manufacturing in Skokie, Illinois. Most recently he was the president and partner at Lawran Foundry Company of Wisconsin. He has also held a variety of positions with the American Foundrymen’s Society, serving as its president from 1994 to 1995.

Woehlke earned a B.S. degree in industrial engineering and engineering operations from Iowa State University. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1971.

With headquarters in Troy, Michigan, Intermet Corporation and its subsidiaries design and manufacture precision iron and aluminum cast components for automotive and industrial equipment manufacturers worldwide. Intermet also produces precision-machines components and manufactures cranes and specialty service vehicles. The company has more than 7,000 employees at 19 operating locations in North America and Europe. Intermet’s internet address is www.intermet.com.

Chicago (Oct. 7, 1999) – Louis Bruno has joined Superior Graphite Co. As Marketing specialist, company officials have announced.

In his new position, Bruno is responsible for overall marketing support, including market research and analysis, and Web development. He is responsible for developing, implementing and managing business plans and market strategies for all SGC product lines on a global basis.

"I look forward to applying my education to SGC’s corporate marketing program," Bruno said.

Bruno, who took over the position June 14, graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee in May, receiving bachelor’s degrees in international business and marketing.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Grede Foundries, Inc., has named David Roycraft as the Works Manager of its New Castle foundry in New Castle, Indiana.

Roycraft received a B.S. in Metallurgy from Purdue University and an M.B.A. from Indiana University. He joined the New Castle foundry in February of 1999 as Factory Manager.

Purchased in 1989, the New Castle foundry produces ductile iron castings for the automotive industry. Grede Foundries operates 12 foundries in the U.S. and the U.K., and is a recognized leading producer of high quality castings in gray iron, ductile iron, and steel.

Intermet Acquires Leading Automotive Suppliers; Major Boost to Aluminum Manufacturing Capability
Troy, Michigan, November 17, 1999 – Intermet Corporation announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement with JJM, LLC, Gantec II, LLC, and Cerberus Institutional Partners, L.P., to purchase Ganton Technologies, Inc., and Diversified Diemakers, Inc. Ganton Technologies is a Wisconsin-based supplier of die-cast aluminum components to the automotive industry. Diversified Diemakers, with headquarters in Missouri, is a leading manufacturer of magnesium die-cast automotive components. Combined, the two companies employ 2,000 people and are expected to have sales of $235 million in 1999. Terms of the agreement were not released.

Ganton Technologies is one of North America’s largest aluminum die casters. Automotive fluid-handling components, such as oil pans, transmission housings and cam covers, make up about 65% of the company’s overall business, with brackets and structural components representing the balance. Ganton Technologies operates three manufacturing facilities, two located in Wisconsin and one in Tennessee. Ganton also operates an engineering center in Wisconsin.

Diversified Diemakers specializes in complex, highly-engineered thin-wall, magnesium diecast products such as brake pedal brackets, instrument panel frames and multi-slide housings representing significant offerings to the automotive, commercial and electronics industries. Diversified Diemakers has three production facilities and a product development center, all in Missouri.

Intermet Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Doddridge said, "We are particularly pleased to acquire both Ganton and Diversified Diemakers. We consider them well managed, with world-class plants. The combination significantly builds on Intermet’s strategy of being a leading, full-service metal caster, primarily serving the automotive industry.

"With the acquisition, we anticipate approximately $1.3 billion in sales in fiscal 2000, assuming the economy remains strong," said Doddridge. "The addition of Ganton/Diemakers to Intermet’s existing aluminum and zinc casting capabilities is expected to provide a total of almost $400 million in non-ferrous casting sales next year. We anticipate that next year’s revenues will be approximately 61% iron, 20% aluminum, 9% magnesium, 2% zinc, and 8% other."

Doddridge emphasized that the acquisition is not a move away from ferrous castings, but a broadening of materials and casting processes consistent with Intermet’s strategy. "We plan to continue the company’s growth in ferrous castings," he added.

Joyce Johnson-Miller, chairperson of Ganton/Diemakers, said "We have made substantial progress with Ganton Technologies over the past four years and most recently with Diversified Diemakers. Our companies have a talented workforce and leadership position in the markets where we compete. I am confident that both companies, as part of Intermet, will continue to grow and become even stronger within the industry."

Doretha Christoph, Intermet’s chief financial officer, said, "We expect the acquisition to be accretive in the year 2000 and anticipate closing this transaction by mid-December." The acquisition is subject to certain regulatory approvals.

With headquarters in Troy, Michigan, Intermet Corporation and its subsidiaries are full-service suppliers to the automotive and industrial equipment industries worldwide, providing precision iron and aluminum cast and finished components. Intermet also manufactures cranes and specialty service vehicles. The company has more than 7,000 employees at 19 locations in North America and Europe. More information bout the company is available on the internet at www.intermet.com.

This news release may include forecasts and forward-looking statements about Intermet, its industry and the markets in which it operates. Forward-looking statements and the achievement of any forecasts or projections are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or denied. Such risks and uncertainties are fully detailed as a preface to the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition in the Company’s 1998 Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1998.

Tupy of Brazil moves into CGI with SinterCast
An agreement has been signed between Fundicao Tupy of Brazil and SinterCast AB (publ) of Sweden signaling the first South American foundry entering into production preparation for Compacted Graphite Iron (CGI) for engine components to the automotive industry using the Swedish SinterCast Foundry Process Control Technology.

Tupy, which is the largest independent foundry in Latin America, has foundries in Joinville and Sao Paulo with a combined capacity of 380,000 tons per year of iron for automotive components for the South and North American automotive and engine industry as well as for European customers.

Among Tupy’s customers are Cummins, Navistar, Detroit Diesel, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, Pengeot, Perkins and Iveco.

A SinterCast System 2000 will be shipped this year and installed in Joinville early spring next year.

SinterCast is a Swedish company, noted on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, specializing in the development, manufacturing and sales of its world leading process control technology for high volume production of CGI components, especially engine blocks and cylinder heads.

Among SinterCast’s customers and end-users are Allen Power Engineering (part of the Rolls Royce Group), Caterpillar, Audi and the independent foundries Halberg in Germany, Sakana in Spain, VDP in Italy and Cifunsa in Mexico.

This press release is issued simultaneously by Tupy in Brazil and SinterCast in Sweden.

For further information:
Mr. Walmor Krause Manufacturing Development Director Fundic�o Tupy R. Albano Schmidt 3400 CXS. Postatis: D-301 e 33 89206-900 Joinville SC Brazil Tel: +55-474-41 8181	Mr. Bertil Hagman Managing Director SinterCast AB (publ) Box 10203 SE-100 55 Stockholm Sweden Tel: +46 8 660 7750 Fax: + 46 8 661 7979

Foseco, Corning Donations Support Case Western Reserve University Metal Casting Laboratories
(Cleveland, November 9, 1999) Foseco, Inc., a leading provider of proprietary products and systems that enhance quality and efficiency in aluminum, iron and steel foundries, and Corning Inc., leaders in materials technology, each recently donated $5,000 for the renovation of metal casting laboratories at Case Western Reserve University. The laboratories serve as a focal point for metal casting research and teaching activities at the university.

The mission of the Case Metal Casting Laboratories (CMCL) is to support the foundry and metal casting education casting education programs at Case Western University, to conduct long-term graduate student-oriented research, and to provide facilities and resources for industry-supported projects. Andrew Adams, Foseco product application manager, noted, "Collaboration and close ties with industry are vital for the future of foundry industry education and research." Adams is also a member of the university’s industrial advisory committee.

David Naylor, Corning product line manager, said, "These facilities will serve a vital role in providing training for the next generation of engineers and scientists who are essential to the metal processing and manufacturing industry. We are proud to offer our support."

Certification Announcement
Livonia, Michigan – Applied Process, Inc. a leader in austempering heat treating technology is proud to announce certification of its new AP Southridge plant in Elizabethtown, Kentucky for ISO9002 and QS9000. It now joins the other Applied Process plants in Livonia, Michigan and Oshkosh, Wisconsin with that designation.

The certification was achieved only 9 months after the new facility opened. Mel Ostrander is president of the facility.

Burmah Castrol Announces Sale of Aluminum Smelter Group
Cleveland, October 11, 1999 – Burmah Castrol has announced the sale of its aluminum smelter products business to Pyrotek Inc. of Spokane, Washington, as part of the company’s strategy to expand in core chemical businesses serving the foundry, steel, printing, releasants, mining and investment casting industries.

Burmah Castrol is best known in the foundry industry as the parent company of Foseco, a leading provider of proprietary products and systems designed to enhance quality and efficiency in aluminum, iron and steel foundries.

According to Roger Stanbridge, CEO of Foseco, Americas, "The sale of Burmah Castrol’s aluminum smelter products group is part of the company’s strategy to focus on strengthening its principle businesses while divesting businesses that do not fit its particular skills. The needs of aluminum cathouses are significantly different from the needs of aluminum, iron and steel foundries. Foseco has been well-known in the foundry industry for many years and will continue its traditions of innovation and service to this industry."

Foseco will continue to market SIVEX^� FC foundry filters, DYCOTE^� refractory coatings, TILITE^� grain refiners, COVERAL^� aluminum fluxes, Rotary Degassing Units (MDUs/FDUs), as well as KALMIN^� and TEMPGARD^� feeding systems to aluminum and other non-ferrous foundries.

A subsidiary of Burmah Castrol PLC’s Chemicals Group, Foseco operated in over 100 countries around the world, with headquarters for the American region in Cleveland, Ohio. Through its dedication to research, Foseco is credited for numerous advancements in metal casting since its founding in 1932.

Intermet Reports Record Third Quarter Sales
TROY, MICHIGAN, October 14, 1999 -- Intermet Corporation (Nasdaq: INMT) today reported net third-quarter sales of $225 million, setting a record for sales in any third quarter in Intermet's history. Third-quarter sales in 1999 increased $36.5 million compared with the same period last year. This increase is partially the result of strong domestic and European light truck markets and $20 million of the increase is due to two acquisitions made at the end of 1998.

Third-quarter income was $0.29 per diluted share on net income of $7.4 million compared with $0.36 per diluted share on net income of $9.3 million in the third quarter of 1998. Earnings were in line with analysts’ expectations.

John Doddridge, chairman and chief executive officer, said, "The exceptionally robust economy has us operating at maximum capacity as we strive to meet customer demand. This has caused a substantial increase in our operating costs. The outlook is positive, however, as we continue to add capacity to provide relief to our plant operations." Doddridge noted that 25,000 tons of capacity has been added at one foundry with an additional 50,000 to 60,000 tons to come online at another plant by the end of the year.

"Intermet has very strong product content in the light truck market, the one area that has seen tremendous growth in the past few years," said Doddridge. "The auto manufacturers are converting many of their car plants to truck facilities and we are working extremely hard to meet those changing needs."

Record sales and earnings continued for the first nine months of 1999 as Intermet posted year-to-date sales of $716 million and earnings of $36.2 million ($1.41 per diluted share). Sales for the first nine months of 1999 were up $83.6 million from 1998 nine-month sales of $633 million, and net earnings were up $3.3 million from $32.9 million in 1998 ($1.27 per diluted share). 1999 sales year-to-date reflect exceptionally strong domestic and European light truck markets with earnings reflecting a one-time tax benefit of $0.18 per diluted share in the second quarter.

The Intermet board of directors voted to approve a quarterly dividend of 4 cents per share, payable December 30, 1999, to shareholders of record as of December 1, 1999.

With headquarters in Troy, Michigan, Intermet Corporation and its subsidiaries design and manufacture precision iron and aluminum cast components for automotive and industrial equipment manufacturers worldwide. Intermet also produces precision-machined components and manufactures cranes and specialty service vehicles. The company has more than 7,000 employees at 19 locations in North America and Europe. The company’s Internet address is www.intermet.com.

This news release may include forecasts and forward-looking statements about Intermet, its industry and the markets in which it operates. Forward-looking statements and the achievement of any forecasts or projections are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or denied. Such risks and uncertainties are fully detailed as a preface to the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition in the Company’s 1998 Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1998.

Intermet to Close Ironton Iron Foundry - Cites Loss of Business
TROY, MICHIGAN, December 7, 1999 -- Intermet Corporation (Nasdaq: INMT) today announced plans to permanently close its Ironton Iron, Inc., foundry in Ironton, Ohio.

The foundry is expected to lose most of its remaining business in early 2000 as customers move work to other suppliers. The Ironton Iron facility has had consistent and enduring financial losses. Given the expected steep decline in business, company officials expected losses for the foreseeable future. In addition, the foundry is one of Intermet's oldest facilities and the cost of modernization would have further impacted already weak operating results.

Intermet purchased Ironton Iron, Inc., in 1988. Prior to that the facility operated for about two years under employee ownership.

The plant manufactures cast ductile iron parts for automotive customers, principally for use in domestically produced light vehicles. It has an annual casting capacity of 98,000 tons, but is currently operating at about 50 percent capacity. The foundry employs approximately 600 people, including hourly and salaried staff. Hourly employees at the plant are represented by the United Steelworkers of America Local 3664.

Intermet anticipates that the foundry will be closed in the first quarter of 2000; however, the actual date has not been determined. Company representatives are meeting with the union and other affected employees to discuss this action and its effects on the workers.

"The decision to close the Ironton foundry was an extremely difficult one for us," said James F. Mason, group vice president for Intermet. "Intermet has been working for years to make this plant efficient. We invested over $100 million in the plant and lost every penny of it, and more. We feel that all avenues were explored, but unfortunately, the loss of business dictated the eventual outcome of our efforts."

Imtermet expects a pretax charge of $16-18 million in the fourth quarter of 1999 as a result of the shutdown.