Grand prize winner accepts Toyota Prius hybrid; winning design has application for golf, utility and small electric vehicles

CHICAGO and NEW HAVEN, Conn. (March 7, 2003) – Emhart Teknologies today announced the winners of its nationwide “Create the Future” design contest at the National Design Engineering show in Chicago.

“The response to the Emhart Create the Future contest was incredible," said Paul A. Gustafson, president and chief executive officer, Emhart Teknologies. "We had more than 1,100 entries from engineering professionals, students, and the general public. Based on the great number and quality of submissions, it shows that ingenuity, engineering and manufacturing are still prime movers in the United States.”

The winning design, created by Frederick Vreeman of Orlando, Florida, is a rotary pinion face gear set that operates with low friction and a very high efficiency over its entire range of power transmission capability. The OEM market buys approximately 4 million small reduction differentials per year in golf, utility, and small electric vehicles. Rotary gears can have higher reduction ratios with a single gear set, allowing higher speed, smaller, lighter and more efficient motors to be used in applications.

In an official ceremony recognizing the winners, Vreeman was awarded a 2003 Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle.

“Emhart Teknologies is a company dedicated to innovation,” added Gustafson. “We strongly believe that innovation truly creates the future. Engineers from every walk of life in America submitted ideas for this contest, and each one was a best idea. This contest is an example of what can be done when you harness the creativity of our people, and I would like to thank each and every individual who participated in this contest.”

Two first prize winners received Segway Transporters. Robert Frantz of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City and Charles Weber of Onalaska, Wisconsin submitted the first prize winning designs.

Frantz received first prize recognition for his design of a vehicle undercarriage search system used for detecting explosives, contraband, weapons and persons concealed beneath cars, trucks, vans, and busses. Weber also shared first prize recognition for his design of an air inversion fan that circulates cool air from the floor and redistributes this cool air at chest level of an individual sitting down.

Gustafson added that all designs and ideas submitted to the contest were worthy of consideration. “Of the more than 1,110 designs received, the biggest dilemma our panel of judges had was selecting the best idea. The reason for that is every idea submitted was a winner,” said Gustafson. “Emhart Teknologies will continue to sponsor events in the future that honor innovation. We will sponsor the second design contest later this year, and hope that we can depend on the visions of engineers and those with entrepreneurial spirit to support our efforts that stimulate innovation and creativity.”

About Emhart Teknologies

New Haven, Conn.-based Emhart Teknologies is the global leader in the design and creation of unique assembly technologies from concept through installation.  Emhart’s technology-based assembly products and systems deliver innovative, integrated system solutions to virtually any manufacturing challenge anywhere in the world.  From automotive to construction, computers to appliances, Emhart products are sold in more than 100 countries. A Black & Decker Company, Emhart has 3,000 employees in 24 operating facilities worldwide.  Please go to www.emhart.com for more information.

Contacts

Edward Dalterio
Director, Global Business Development
Emhart Teknologies
(203) 781-7822
ed.dalterio@bdk.com

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