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TUCSON, Arizona, October 26, 2001                                                                                  

WALBRO ENGINE MANAGEMENT EXPANDS ELECTRONICS CAPABILITIES
WITH ADDITION OF LATEST SURFACE MOUNT MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY


Walbro Engine Management has added the latest surface mount electronics manufacturing technology at its facility in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico.

In addition to increasing ignition module production capacity in response to growing customer demand, the use of surface mount manufacturing equipment puts Walbro Engine Management in the forefront of ignition module technology in the small engine industry, says Andrew Masterman, President, Walbro Engine Management.

Surface mount technology offers several important benefits to our customers, according to Masterman.  These include additional product features, improved quality and greater production flexibility to better meet customer requirements.

The use of surface mount technology (SMT) permits a reduction in the size of ignition modules or an increase in circuitry density. SMT also allows the use of more sophisticated circuits with more components and features, resulting in improved engine performance and better exhaust emissions management. SMT modules can also be more easily tailored to complement fuel system features to provide a complete engine management system in order to further enhance performance.

The manufacturing benefits of SMT include improved product quality and greater manufacturing flexibility. Shorter manufacturing cycles and reduced lead times combine with a high degree of manufacturing flexibility for improved customer support, especially for those with lower volume requirements.

Walbro Engine Management, a unit of TI Automotive, is the world's largest manufacturer of small engine carburetors for hand-held power equipment, and a major manufacturer of small engine ignition systems and other products for outdoor power equipment and recreational products. Walbro Engine Management has facilities in the United States, Mexico, Italy, Japan and China.

For more information, please contact:

Ann Guernsey
Walbro Engine Management
(520-877-3000