LANCASTER, PA.--August, 1998. Maxima Technologies, the operating group that includes the AST, Datcon and Stewart Warner brands of electronic controls and monitoring systems, has launched an instrument cluster for Grupo Dina (Ciudad Sahagun, Mexico) for their new family of Class 6, 7 and 8 trucks as well as buses. Dina is a major heavy truck & bus manufacturer located in Mexico and in fact, they are among the market leaders in sales of Class 6 trucks in that country. Dina buses are sold in the U.S., South America and other parts of the world. In addition, Grupo Dina also owns Motor Coach Industries (MCI)(Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada), a manufacturer of buses. MCI is a market leader in sales of inter-city buses.

Maxima already supplies a wide range of instrument clusters for customers in the construction, agricultural and material handling markets. In Europe, the company enjoys an estimated 40% share of the agricultural vehicle instrumentation market and in the last year, the company has successfully penetrated the German material handling vehicle market. Major global customers include Agco/Massey-Ferguson/Fendt, Case-Poclain, Caterpillar, Daewoo, Fendt, Fiat/New Holland, Grove Worldwide, Jungheinrich/Boss, Linde, SAME/Deutz Fahr and Zetor.

Company president Oddie Leopando reported that, "Maxima is pleased to be part of Dina's exciting new program and we are looking forward to partnering with them as they open new markets. This project not only supports Maxima's vision of becoming a market leader in North America, but it also establishes our company as a legitimate contender in the on-highway vehicle instrument cluster market."

Maxima Technologies is a global manufacturer and full-service supplier of electronic controls and monitoring systems. As a consolidator of high-quality brands and a systems integrator, Maxima is a preferred supplier to many of the biggest O.E.M.s in the off-highway, industrial, engine-powered equipment, on-highway, marine, specialty vehicle, motorcycle, power turf equipment, emergency vehicle and recreational vehicle markets. Products include analog and digital instrument clusters and displays; electrical and mechanical gauges and meters; instrument controllers and related data-bus instruments; electronic control units (ECUs); battery monitoring systems; engine shut-down equipment; senders, sensors and switches; and related accessories. The company's operations are ISO 9001 and QS-9000 certified. Brands include AST, Datcon, and Stewart Warner.

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Contact: sales@datcon.com