Dana Corporation Achieves Industry First with Five-Layer Thermal Shielding on New Ford Freestar, Mercury Monterey Minivans

    TOLEDO, Ohio, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dana Corporation
(NYSE: DCN) announced today it is providing a new five-layer thermal-acoustic
protective shielding (TAPS) for the exhaust manifold on the new Ford Freestar
and Mercury Monterey minivans.   This is believed to be the first application
of a five-layer fully isolated TAPS on any vehicle in the automotive industry.
    (Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990903/DANA )
    "Dana's new five-layer shield has multiple uses for key areas under the
hood where customers need to reduce noise and extreme temperatures," said Bill
Carroll, Dana's acting president and chief operating officer.  "We are proud
to add this innovation to our portfolio of industry firsts, and we expect
significant growth from future applications."
    The five-layer TAPS consists of an aluminized steel top layer, a
lightweight durable layer of insulation, a layer of dimpled steel, another
layer of insulation, and then a final layer of aluminized clad steel.
    Unlike three-layer constructions, Dana's five-layer TAPS adds an
additional layer of insulating material, along with a dimpled layer of steel
between the insulating layers.  These extra layers help diffuse and rebound
sound waves back toward the source, reducing airborne noise and adding higher
heat reduction values to the shield.
    "Dana's new five-layer design takes the technology to a new level,
reinforcing our role as a leader in the automotive shielding marketplace,"
said Mike Laisure, president of Dana's Engine and Fluid Management Group.  "We
expect continued growth from our TAPS products due to the increasing amount of
electronics related to hybrids and drive-by-wire systems that will be found
under the hood of tomorrow's vehicles."
    Dana's automated assembly cell production for TAPS uses a crush-forming
process to mold the part.  This process helps reduce wrinkles in the shielding
and increases reliability in the middle layers when compared to the commonly
used draw process.  Completed shields have fully-hemmed edges for safe
handling and servicing.
    The five-layer TAPS for the minivan's exhaust manifold is produced at
Dana's facility in Chatham, Ontario.  Dana has additional TAPS manufacturing
facilities in Germany, Brazil, and Japan.
    Dana also provides the trailing rear axle, engine cradle, cylinder-head
gasket, piston rings, and transmission oil cooler on the new Ford Freestar and
Mercury Monterey that were launched in November.
    Dana Corporation is a global leader in the design, engineering, and
manufacture of value-added products and systems for automotive, commercial,
and off-highway vehicle manufacturers and their related aftermarkets.  The
company employs approximately 60,000 people worldwide.  Founded in 1904 and
based in Toledo, Ohio, Dana operates hundreds of technology, manufacturing,
and customer service facilities in 30 countries.  The company reported sales
of $9.5 billion in 2002.  Dana's Internet address is http://www.dana.com

SOURCE Dana Corporation

Web Site: http://www.dana.com

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