1999

Nov.4, 1999

Minebea Co., Ltd. supplies DC Brushless Motors for Electric Power Steering to a Major Automotive Component Company, Delphi Automotive Systems

Minebea Co., Ltd., based on its contract with a leading American automotive component company, Delphi Automotive Systems (Troy, Michigan, U.S.A.), has been supplying on an OEM basis DC brushless motors used in Delphi's E-SteerTM Electric Power Steering (EPS) system to Delphi Cadiz Spain since April 1999. With Delphi's authorization, we are pleased to issue this press release.

This DC brushless motor's basic specification and basic design concept were shown to the world's leading motor manufacturers to finalize the design and produce the motor for Delphi. Minebea's motor development subsidiary,Precision - Motors - Deutsche - Minebea - GmbH (PM'DM / Spaichingen, Germany), received final approval of the motor for its revolutionary motor engineering.Mass production started exclusively at Minebea's Thailand subsidiary, Minebea Thai Ltd. in April 1999.

The press release issued by Minebea's U.S.A. sales subsidiary, NMB Technologies Corporation (Chatsworth, California, U.S.A.), which was in charge of the contract with Delphi, and other informations are attached herewith for your reference.

Delphi Awards Motor Contract to NMB / Minebea Co., Japan

Chatsworth, CA - NMB Technologies Corporation announces that it has signed a contract with Delphi Automotive Systems. Under the terms of the contract, NMB is the OEM supplier of a proprietary brushless DC motor being used in Delphi's E-SteerTM Electric Power Steering system. The brushless DC motor design by Delphi, will be mounted under the dashboard to assist the automobile driver's steering. The motors are being integrated into vehicles for the European markets. Shipments to Delphi Cadiz, Spain, where the motors are being used in systems built in Europe, commenced April 1999.

Delphi Automotive Systems is the recent winner of the 1999 PACE award for this innovative technology. E-SteerTM is an all-electric, engine independent power steering system developed by Delphi Saginaw to replace conventional automotive hydraulics. The E-SteerTM system eliminates the need for a power steering pump, hoses, hydraulic fluid, and a drive belt and pulley on the engine. Increased fuel economy and power are some of the numerous benefits that this system provides.

"We are very pleased to have been chosen as the motor supplier, and to have started production of E-SteerTM motors for Delphi's revolutionary new steering technology", says Kunio Shimba, Executive Vice President of NMB Technologies Corporation. "NMB has proven world class leadership for both global development and production capabilities. NMB is also an awarded leader in environmental management systems, among them, ISO 14001 certification. This project is another example of NMB's commitment to the global automotive market, and also reflects our focus on co-developing and launching cutting-edge technologies."

NMB Technologies Corporation is a subsidiary of NMB (USA) Inc., the North American headquarters of the multi-national Minebea Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan. NMB is the world's largest manufacturer of miniature and instrument ball bearings, and is a world-class manufacturer of step motors, spindle motors, mechanical assemblies, aircraft self-aligning roller, rod-end bearings, as well as other electrical products. NMB Technologies Corporation's headquarters are located in Chatsworth, CA. For more information regarding NMB, call (818) 341-0820, e-mail info@nmbcorp.com or visit www.nmbcorp.com on the Internet. To find out more about NMB's automotive products, contact Mr. Bob Bowe, manager of the NMB Automotive Division at (248) 926-0026 or e-mail at bbowe@nmbcorp.com.

Delphi Automotive Systems (NYSE: DPH), with headquarters in Troy, Mich., USA, is a world leader in automotive component and systems technology. Delphi's three business sectors - Dynamics & Propulsion; Safety, Thermal & Electrical Architecture; and Electronics & Mobile Communications - provide comprehensive product solutions to complex customer needs. Delphi has approximately 201,000 employees and operates 168 wholly owned manufacturing sites, 38 joint ventures, 51 customer centers and sales offices, and 27 technical centers in 37 countries. Regional headquarters are located in Paris, Tokyo and Sao Paulo. Delphi can be found on the Internet at www.delphiauto.com.

Attachments :

Outline of PM'DM

Summary of Minebea's Automotive Business

Miniature and small-sized ball bearings

Rod-end and spherical bearings

DC brushless motors

PM-type stepping motors

DC fan motors (with temperature sensors)

Fasteners (bolts, nuts, etc.)

1) Minebea specializes in miniature and small-sized bearings, and does not manufacture large-sized bearings used in automotive structure.  

2) Minebea has been active in selling ball bearings primarily to the three major U.S. car manufacturers and to other car makers in Europe. The Company is now trying to increase ball bearing sales to automobile and related manufacturers in Japan.

Minebea's sales of ball bearings for automotive applications are increasing year by year and presently account for about 10% of Minebea's overall ball bearing sales.

3) Minebea's plants in Singapore and Thailand and Karuizawa Manufacturing Unit (Development base), which are the Company's ball bearing mass production base, have achieved the certification of "QS-9000," the product quality standards by the U.S. automobile industry represented by the three major car manufacturers.

4) NMB Technical Center was established in Detroit in the U.S. in March 1999 to conduct evaluation tests of Minebea's automotive products including ball bearings.

5) Precision-Motors-Deutsche-Minebea-GmbH in Germany conducts research and development of small-sized motors for automotive applications.

For further inquiries, please contact:

Minebea Co., Ltd. Corporate Communications Office,Corporate Planning Department
Ryusuke Mizukami, Managing Director
Yasuaki Miyahara, In charge of corporate communications
Tel: 81-3-5434-8637
Fax: 81-3-5434-8607
Email: rmizukam@minebea.co.jp

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