NGK Creates US Sales Arm

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- NGK Insulators, Ltd. (Japan) announces the formation of their new U.S. company, NGK ELECTRONICS USA, INC. Established in April 2002, the new corporate headquarters are in Sunnyvale, California. As part of the NGK family of companies, NGK ELECTRONICS USA will function as the marketing and sales arm of its sister companies NGK Locke, Electronics Division (raw materials and ceramic substrates), FM Industries (FMI) (modules manufacturing for semiconductor equipment), and Optobahn Corporation (optical parallel interconnects and fiber arrays).

NGK ELECTRONICS USA will provide additional sales resources to expand the North American market for NGK Insulators, Ltd. in fiber optic arrays and ceramic modules and components, offering heightened customer service and responsiveness to customer needs. Sales of Optical Parallel Interconnects & Optical Fiber Arrays for optical telecommunication; Sales of Ceramic components/modules for Semiconductor equipment.

With the establishment of the new company, sales and marketing functions for Optical Parallel Interconnects and Optical Fiber Arrays will be transferred from Optobahn(tm) Corporation (Torrance, CA) to NGK Electronics USA, Inc. as of July 1, 2002. Optobahn's sales offices in New Jersey and Los Angeles will remain unchanged and will operate as the new company's sales branches. Optobahn Corporation will remain as the NGK Insulators(tm) subsidiary for R & D of Optoelectronic components.

NGK Insulators Ltd.