PRESS RELEASE
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HARMAN SPECIALTY GROUP SELECTS MACK TECHNOLOGIES
AS ITS NEW STRATEGIC MANUFACTURING PARTNER FOR
LEXICON AND MARK LEVINSON PRODUCTS— Move brings significantly enhanced manufacturing processes and
advanced testing technologies to the assembly of
HSG’s high performance, high fidelity audio/video components —CEDIA EXPO, DENVER, CO, September 14, 2006 — As part of its ongoing effort to bring ever-increased value to the leading consumer audio brands Lexicon and Mark Levinson, the Harman Specialty Group, a Harman International Company (NYSE-HAR), announces Mack Technologies of Westford, MA, as its new strategic manufacturing partner. Transfer of the manufacturing process will begin later this year. This selection, based on exhaustive research by HSG, will benefit the Lexicon and Mark Levinson brands and their many customers globally in several ways: these brand’s products will now be manufactured in a dedicated facility with access to highly advanced testing and modeling equipment, including sophisticated software, automated optical inspection, environmental stress screening and Halt/Hass testing — systems that Mack Technologies has years of experience using for products it builds for the commercial aviation, broadcast and telecom industries. The strategic partnering with Mack Technologies allows HSG to bring these technological advantages to bear on Lexicon and Mark Levinson products without sacrificing the attention to detail that historically comes with the crafts-base manufacturing approach of a high-end luxury product maker. This will also build further market equity for these renowned brands while improving their performance and reliability.
The Lexicon and Mark Levinson engineering departments will continue to operate out of Bedford, MA, approximately 15 minutes away from Westford, assuring close and ongoing interaction between design and manufacturing. Revel products, also part of the Harman Specialty Group, will not be affected by this change.
“I want to stress that this move is not a cost-cutting measure — rather, it’s a strategic decision that will reinforce all of the advantages that these brands presently enjoy, including highly detailed assembly processes,” commented John P. Batliner, President, Harman Specialty Group. “The transfer of manufacturing enhances those benefits by making more advanced manufacturing technologies accessible and by allowing them to be used on a larger scale without sacrificing any quality whatsoever. This move gives Lexicon and Mark Levinson products a seamless new manufacturing and testing environment that extends from prototyping through final assembly.”
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The Harman Specialty Group (HSG) is a leading manufacturer of high performance, high fidelity audio/video components for use in the home. The Group’s brands include Mark Levinson®, Revel®, and Lexicon®.
HSG is a division of Harman International, Inc. Harman International (www.harman.com). The company’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HAR.
“Mark Levinson,” “Revel,” and “Lexicon” are registered trademarks of Harman International Industries. U.S. patents and other worldwide patents issued and pending. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.
—For more information on the complete range of Mark Levinson, Revel, and Lexicon products, contact Harman Specialty Group, 3 Oak Park Drive, Bedford, MA 01730-1413.
Tel: (781) 280-0300; Fax: (781) 280-0490; Web: www.harmanspecialtygroup.com—For more information on Harman International Industries, Incorporated, visit: www.harman.com. The company’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HAR.”
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