Philadelphia Gear Extends Network Of Uniform Service Centers


Birmingham Achieves Full Service Regional Service Center Status

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA, February 20, 2008 - Officials of Philadelphia Gear Corporation have announced that its Birmingham Regional Service Center has achieved a major milestone with the installation of its 1.5 meter Höfler grinder. Birmingham is the fifth Philadelphia Gear Company site to obtain such operational gear cutting capability.

The grinder is typically used as reserve capacity for rapid turnaround to support the company's aftermarket value proposition of helping its customers minimize downtime as much as possible. As such, Philadelphia Gear is in the unique position of being able to turn and grind entire gear-sets without interrupting a normal production schedule.

"Creating a network of uniform service centers is one of the foundations of Philadelphia Gear's aftermarket business plan," said Philadelphia Gear President and CEO Carl Rapp. "Now with installation of the Höfler grinder, Birmingham takes an additional step toward fulfilling that strategy of unparalleled full service maintenance and repair."

Originally purchased on the used equipment market, the Höfler grinder went through several overhauls, the most substantial of which was the complete replacement of all of the electronics and installation of a PLC control system. Though not fully CNC, the completely refurbished Höfler grinder is dramatically better than its purely mechanical counterparts.

"This piece of equipment gives us a tremendous competitive advantage," said Mike Bashour the Birmingham RSC's General Manager. "It allows us to be more responsive to new customers, and to better service existing customers throughout the region."

For more information on the Birmingham Regional Service Center or the Höfler grinder, contact a Philadelphia Gear Representative.

A founding member of the American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA), Philadelphia Gear offers products and services found in use worldwide; from conveyor gear drives used in long wall coal mining operations, to emergency repair services critical to the power generation industries. The company serves thousands of customers across the globe from its regional service and manufacturing facilities in New Castle, DE; Birmingham, AL; Chicago, IL; Houston, TX; and Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia Gear is headquartered in King of Prussia, PA.

For more information, call 800-766-5120, fax 610-337-5637, or visit online at www.philagear.com.

Contact:
Michelle Bauer
FCF Schmidt Public Relations
610-941-0395
mbauer@fcfschmidtpr.com

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