Cognis’ transportation lubricants receive ISO/TS Quality Certification

Today, end users in the global transportation lubricants market place many demands on original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) – products must be environmentally friendly, efficient and deliver superior performance. The global specialty chemicals supplier Cognis is among the first in this market to receive ISO/TS 16949:2002 Quality Certification for its Compounded Transportation Lubricants. This means that Cognis customers in the automotive industry can rest assured that they are purchasing high-quality products, manufactured in compliance with the strictest process standards.

The certificate declares that Cognis’ lubricants comply with the specific customer requirements of renowned global manufacturers of fuel additives and transportation lubricants in the truck, bus and automotive industry. The certification guarantees that Cognis’ processes and products meet the strictest technical and quality standards, and as a result customers can be confident that in working with Cognis they are working with a company that is totally committed to ISO/TS quality processes in every area of its business, including senior management, R&D, sales & marketing, manufacturing shipping, and finance.

An audit that assesses every stage of the Cognis lubricants’ production cycle
The certifying body was DQS GmbH, Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Zertifizierung von Managementsystemen (German Organization for the Certification of Management Systems), one of the leading providers of quality management systems worldwide. The certificate is valid until August 2007. The audit assessed every stage of the lubricants’ production cycle: Cognis has implemented and maintained a quality management system that runs from design and development to warehousing, manufacturing, packaging and through corporate support processes, sales and distribution. All sites linked to Cognis’ transportation lubricants are certified: Cincinnati, Florence (USA), Mississauga, Niagara Falls and Toronto (Canada).

Customers are also guaranteed that Cognis’ transportation lubricants are environmentally friendly, helping OEM’s to benefit from the international sustainability trend. This is due to Cognis’ ISO certification 14001 and Cognis’ compliance with internationally recognized standards in good manufacturing practice.

Jim Casey, Business Director Compounded Lubricants Cognis Corporation, comments: ’’With this successful certification Cognis has once more proven itself to be a pioneer in the transportation lubricant market and demonstrated its products are of the highest quality. I am sure that our market partners in the automotive industry will benefit from these certified quality and performance standards by making great strides in efficiency and end consumer satisfaction. Furthermore, this certification will help Cognis Synlubes Technology to strengthen its position at the forefront of the market, as a leading solutions provider and a reliable partner in the global high-performance lubricants market.’’

About Cognis:
Cognis is a worldwide supplier of innovative specialty chemicals and nutritional ingredients. As at September 30, 2004, the company employed about 8,100 people, and it operates production sites and service centers in 30 countries. Cognis has dedicated its activities to a high level of sustainability and delivers natural source raw materials and ingredients for food, nutrition and healthcare markets, and the cosmetics, detergents and cleaners industries. Additionally, Cognis provides solutions for a number of other industries, such as coatings and inks, lubricants, textiles and plastics, as well as agriculture and mining.

Cognis is owned by private equity funds advised by Permira, GS Capital Partners, and Schroder Ventures Life Sciences. In 2003, Cognis recorded sales of 2.95 billion euros and an Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and exceptional items) of 312 million euros.

Contact:
Jim Casey, Business Director Compounded Lubricants
Cognis Corporation
Phone: +1-513-482-3541
E-Mail: jim.casey@cognis.com
Internet: www.cognis.com

Wulf Klüppelholz, Corporate Communications Manager
Cognis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG
Phone: +49-211-7940-6679
E-mail: wulf.klueppelholz@cognis.com
Internet: www.cognis.com