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Press
Release
June 1, 2005
Aftermarket Technology Corp. and Fallbrook Technologies Inc. Sign Manufacturing License Agreement for Breakthrough Transmission Technology
– Fallbrook's innovative NuVinciT continuously variable planetary
transmission technology to fuel ATC's diversification
into original equipment products and solutions –
(Downers Grove, Ill. and San Diego, Calif., June 1, 2005) - Aftermarket Technology Corp. (ATC),
North America's largest remanufacturer of automotive drivetrain products, and Fallbrook
Technologies Inc. (Fallbrook), a pioneering technology development and intellectual property
licensing company, announced today they have signed a manufacturing license agreement that
allows ATC to design and build a wide range of transmission applications based on Fallbrook's
NuVinci continuously variable planetary (CVP) technology.
The agreement is a strategic move in ATC's growth and diversification strategy, leveraging
its ongoing transmission remanufacturing and engineering expertise into the transmission
manufacturing arena. ATC's selection of Fallbrook's NuVinci technology as the basis for
this part of its overall growth and diversification strategy represents a major validation of
the NuVinci CVP's market potential.
Under the agreement, ATC will work with customers to design and build next-generation
transmissions based on the NuVinci technology platform for a variety of industries and
applications. ATC will initially target OEMs in industries that rely on transmission-based
machines, from bicycles and recreation vehicles up through the agricultural and automotive
arenas. ATC's decades of experience in working with a variety of transmission units and
component parts throughout their life cycle make it the ideal manufacturer for these
advanced drivetrains.
"ATC and Fallbrook are a perfect match to take NuVinci technology to market," said Don
Johnson, president and CEO of ATC. "When we saw the ability of the NuVinci technology to
deliver significant gains in performance and control in a wide range of applications, we
knew it was the right choice for growing ATC's business. We expect our new CVP transmissions
to create a diverse set of opportunities that will expand our customer and revenue base
over time."
Johnson continued, "As we begin to market this new transmission technology,
ATC will remain focused on growing our drivetrain remanufacturing business with our current and
targeted customer base. While we are not raising 2005 revenue guidance based on today's
announcement, we believe in this technology as another building block in our Company's
growth and diversification strategy."
"NuVinci technology is the most practical, economical and adaptable CVP transmission for
human-powered and motor-powered vehicles and machines," said Bill Klehm, president and
CEO of Fallbrook. "It is ideally suited for application across many industries."
The NuVinci CVP controls relationships of speed and torque. It uses a set of rotating balls
between the input and output components of a transmission. Tilting the balls changes their
contact diameters and varies the speed ratio. As a result, the NuVinci CVP improves
acceleration, performance and efficiency over conventional transmissions. Compared to
traditional continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), NuVinci technology is less complex,
has considerably fewer parts, offers more stable control, and provides for easier shifting.
It also scales and packages more easily, and costs less to manufacture and assemble.
"Our goal with NuVinci technology is nothing less than to change the way people build
transmission-based machines," Mr. Klehm added. "Our partnership with ATC is a giant leap
forward in achieving that goal."
About Aftermarket Technology Corp.
ATC is headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois. The Company provides outsourced engineered
solutions and supply chain logistics services to the light vehicle (cars and light trucks)
aftermarket and consumer electronics industries.
About Fallbrook Technologies Inc.
Fallbrook Technologies Inc. (Fallbrook) is a technology development and intellectual property
licensing company dedicated to improving the performance and flexibility of transmissions for
vehicles and equipment. Fallbrook's revolutionary NuVinci™ continuously variable planetary
(CVP) technology is applicable to virtually any machines that use a transmission such as
bicycles, light electric vehicles, automobiles, agricultural equipment, and utility class wind
turbines among others. The NuVinci technology offers companies the flexibility to design and
produce next generation products that are better tailored to their unique business, market
and competitive requirements. To learn more about Fallbrook and its NuVinci
technology, please visit
www.fallbrooktech.com.
The following statement is in reference to Aftermarket Technology Corp
The preceding paragraphs contain statements that are not related to historical results
and are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include those that are
predictive or express expectations that depend upon or refer to future events or
conditions, or that concern future financial performance (including future revenues,
earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, or possible future
Company actions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because such
statements are based on current expectations, projections and assumptions regarding
future events that may not prove to be accurate. Actual results may differ materially
from those projected or implied in the forward-looking statements. The factors that
could cause actual results to differ are discussed in the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and other filings made by the Company
with the Securities and Exchange Commission
To download a comprehensive press kit and
Fallbrook company/technology backgrounder click on the link below:
Fallbrook Press Kit
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