Outokumpu American Brass Earns Stringent Quality Certification

First integrated copper and alloy strip and sheet products manufacturer in North America to achieve new quality standard

BUFFALO, N.Y., January 20, 2004 - Outokumpu American Brass has become the first integrated copper and copper-alloy sheet and strip products manufacturer in North America to earn the manufacturing sector's stringent international quality standard, ISO/TS 16949 certification.

Previously certified as an ISO 9002 company in 1994, the ISO/TS 16949 designation recognizes Outokumpu's Buffalo Manufacturing Unit for achieving management system requirements that deliver customer satisfaction - particularly those in the automotive industry - worldwide.

ISO/TS 16949 is an international quality management standard that was jointly developed by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF), representing participating automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and their respective trade associations, and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Certification resulted from a stringent third-party registration and audit process conducted by Steel Related Industries (SRI), a quality system registrar headquartered in Wexford, Pa.

Michael J. Comerford, Vice President and General Manager at Outokumpu's Buffalo Manufacturing Unit said the certification is a tremendous accomplishment and represents great news for the company, its employees and most importantly, its customers, especially those in the automotive supply chain.

"Compliance with the requirements set forth in this quality management system will enable us to demonstrate continual improvement in our products and processes, and focus attention on our ability to measure and achieve the highest levels of customer satisfaction," Comerford said. "We are proud to be able to take a leadership position in our industry in this regard."

"To be officially certified as an ISO/TS 16949 manufacturer will increasingly be viewed as a prerequisite for doing business with a number of important existing customers," Comerford said. "It will also open the door to new prospective business partners in a variety of industries, in particular those related to the automotive sector."

Comerford said the certification process, which began in the fall of 2002 with the development of a cross-functional steering committee, eventually touched every employee and linked every area of the business.

Members of the steering committee included: M. Parker Finney, Technical Director; Ray Mercer, Vice President and General Manager for Outokumpu's Global Connectors Business Line, Todd Heusner, Vice President and General Manager of Regional Products, Americas; Jim Lajewski, General Manager for the Company's Telecommunication Business Line and Michael Bardak, who was designated as the project champion.

The audit process itself consisted of a preliminary visit and inspection of the facility by SRI representatives early in 2003, followed by a comprehensive eight-day audit with multiple auditors in the fall of 2003.

Outokumpu officials credited the Technical Center for Industrial Excellence at the University of Buffalo for some early assistance in helping the company to prepare for the certification process.

Headquartered in Buffalo, N.Y., Outokumpu American Brass is a subsidiary of the Outokumpu Group, a global metals and technology company comprising Outokumpu Stainless, Outokumpu Copper, and Outokumpu Technology. Outokumpu Copper is the world's second-largest producer of fabricated copper products.

For more information, contact Diane Danitz at +1 716 879 6763 or visit the company's website at www.outokumpu.com/copper/americas.