| BASF’s Cellasto® MCU business
earns Toyota’s top supplier award for quality
Microcellular polyurethane jounce bumpers improve ride, comfort
of Toyota models
WYANDOTTE, Mich., April 11, 2005 -- BASF’s Cellasto microcellular
polyurethanes (MCU) business received an Excellent Award in Quality
from Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TMMNA), Erlanger,
Ky., during TMMNA’s Annual Supplier Business Meeting and Awards
Ceremony held in Covington, Ky., on March 23.
BASF supplies Toyota with Cellasto MCU jounce bumpers, which are
used in the automotive chassis and improve the overall ride and
comfort characteristics of the vehicle.
The awards acknowledge those suppliers who have met Toyota’s
highest standards in quality, delivery and value improvement for
parts and materials. Additionally, special recognition awards were
given to those suppliers whose exemplary work over the past several
years greatly contributed to the launch of the all-new 2005 Toyota
Tacoma.
“Providing superior quality and continuously meeting high
standards are of great importance to our business and our team of
professionals,” said Bob Jamrog, Director of BASF’s
Cellasto MCU business in North America. “Because we pride
ourselves in being the company that ‘helps make products better,’
receiving this prestigious award from Toyota, a recognized leader
in quality, is a tremendous honor for BASF.”
“As Toyota continues to grow in North America, our suppliers
are challenged to meet Toyota’s high standards on an even
greater scale,” said Osamu “Simon” Nagata, Vice
President of Purchasing for TMMNA. “Toyota’s success
here is directly linked to the success of our suppliers.”
The awards were given at Toyota’s Annual Business Meeting
and Awards Ceremony, which brings together the automaker’s
approximately 500 North American suppliers to share expectations
for the coming business year and to recognize outstanding performance
among suppliers.
About Toyota
By 2006, Toyota will have the capacity to build 1.66 million cars
and trucks a year and 1.44 million engines in North America. Toyota
currently employs over 37,000 people throughout North America. The
company's direct investment is over $16.7 billion with annual parts,
materials, goods and services purchased from North American suppliers
totaling over $25 billion. Toyota's North American-produced vehicles
include the Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Matrix, Sienna, Solara, Sequoia,
Tacoma, Tundra, and the Lexus RX 330.
BASF - The Chemical Company. We don't make a lot of the
products you buy. We make a lot of the products you buy better.®
BASF Corporation, headquartered in New Jersey, is the North American
affiliate of BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany. Rated in FORTUNE magazine
as America’s Most Admired Chemical Company, we employ about
10,000 people in North America and had sales of approximately $11
billion in 2004. For more information about BASF’s North American
operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit
www.basf.com/usa.
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical
Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance
products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil
and natural gas. As a reliable partner to virtually all industries,
BASF’s intelligent solutions and high-value products help
its customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies
and uses them to open up additional market opportunities. It combines
economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility,
thus contributing to a better future. In 2004, BASF had approximately
82,000 employees and posted sales of more than $50 billion. BASF
shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London
(BFA), New York (BF), Paris (BA) and Zurich (AN). Further information
on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
For more information, contact:
David A. Elliott
BASF
Tel: (734) 324-6148
E-mail: elliotd1@basf.com
Trina Ewald
Toyota
Tel: (859) 746-4358
E-mail: tewald@tmmna.com
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