PORTLAND, Ore. (May 11, 2004) — Two Canadian facilities — Flexalloy Inc. of St. Thomas, Ont. and Canada Marine Plastics Ltd. of Langley, B.C. — were recognized as by Freightliner with 2004 Masters of Quality awards.

Canada Marine Plastics is a ten-year recipient, while Flexalloy has been honoured by the truckmaker nine times.

The annual awards go to companies who meet the highest standards of quality in providing parts and components for Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star, American LaFrance and Thomas Built Buses vehicles.

Freightliner LLC recognized fewer suppliers than in previous years. “The quality bar has been set higher than ever,” said Paul Romanaggi, General Manager of Quality for Freightliner LLC.

The Consolidated Metco Inc. plant in Monroe, N.C., was recognized with the award for the 14th year, the most of any supplier recognized for 2003.

Some of the other multiple year recipients of the Masters of Quality award recipients are as follows:

Thirteenth-Year Recipient: Paramount Bedding Inc., Damascus, Ore.

Twelfth-Year Recipient: Consolidated Metco Inc., Clackamas, Ore.

Ninth-Year Recipients: Consolidated Metco Inc., Portland, Ore.; Julian Electric Inc., Westmont, Ill.

Eighth-Year Recipient: Flexalloy Inc., Charlotte, N.C.

Sixth-Year Recipients: Behr Climate Systems Inc., Fort Worth, Tex.; East Penn Manufacturing Co. Inc., Lyon Station, Pa.

Fifth-Year Recipient: Gates Rubber, Denver, Colo.

Fourth-Year Recipients: Bostrom Seating Inc., Piedmont, Ala.; Gunite Corporation, Rockford, Ill.