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PRESS RELEASE

GMI press contact: Roland Gremion Tel: +33 (0)3 81 84 16 72 Mobile: +33 (0)6 70 08 36 92

Email : rgremion@wanadoo.fr WEB : www.groupgmi.com

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The Maillard Industrie Group opens a rotational moulding subsidiary for technical parts in India

AUTECHAUX, 20 March 2003: After the Czech Republic 10 years ago, the Maillard Industrie Group, established in Autechaux in the Doubs department of France, is continuing to increase its international development by opening a sixth subsidiary in Marmagao, a small township in the Goa province of India, 300 km to the southeast of Bombay.

The Indian subsidiary comprises GMI's controlling interest (51%) within Zarhak Moulders Limited, an industrial partner specialised in rotational moulding with a workforce of 20.

The Maillard Industrie Group's international strategy is to develop in those countries where the markets are emerging, whilst putting its European experience and expertise to good use. In India, the group will use the plastics rotational moulding technology to develop and produce such technical parts as custom-designed tanks and technical components for manufacturers of farming machinery, commercial and industrial vehicles, equipment for materials handling, and collection conduits and pipes for drainage.

GMI is the leader in France and third-placed in Europe in terms of the design and production of specific packaging for OEMs and manufacturers for the transportation, storage and handling of car parts (80% of sales), and a developer of solutions and industrial parts for general industry (20% of sales) by drawing on the five technologies in which the group has been an expert for 20 years: mechanical welding, industrial thermoforming, rotational moulding, polyurethane elastomers and steel wire.

GMI and its partner have set themselves the objective of becoming the leading designer and manufacturer of rotationally-moulded technical parts in India and its neighbouring countries by 2006 –2007.

GMI - The Maillard Industrie Group generates a sales figure of 45 million euros (35% of which from exports) through its five subsidiaries. The head office is located in Autechaux in the Franche-Comté region of France. The group has subsidiaries in the Paris area, the Czech Republic, Spain and India. Its 475-strong workforce, 270 of which in France, provide the company with its expertise in the five technologies for transforming materials

Mechanical welding, industrial thermoforming, rotational moulding, polyurethane elastomers, metal wire

The group's sphere of influence extends over two major markets. Its commercial set-up is structured around two divisions:

æCar Industry Division: which designs and engineers specific packaging for the original car parts supply chain between OEMs and manufacturers.

æIndustry Division: which designs and manufactures industrial parts (technical tanks, visible parts, cowlings, equipment for the leisure industry and the public buildings and works sector, signalling, the water sports sector, defence, design,etc.) by drawing on the five technologies in which the group has extensive expertise.

GMI – GROUPE MAILLARD INDUSTRIE - ZONE INDUSTRIELLE LA CRAYE F - 25110 AUTECHAUX / BAUME-LES-DAMES - FRANCE