Tustin, Calif., June 13, 2002 -- George Fischer Piping Systems, Ltd., was named a recipient of Intel Corporation's prestigious Supplier Continuous Quality Improvement (SCQI) award.

Intel made the award for outstanding commitment to quality and performance by a supplier that provided products and services deemed essential to Intel's success in 2001.

The company was awarded for its efforts in supplying Intel with ultra high purity piping and components. George Fischer Piping Systems and 11 additional SCQI award winners were honored at a celebration in Burlingame, Calif. recently.

"George Fischer is the first facilities supplier to win the Intel SCQI Award two years in a row," said Stephen Creaner, manager of Intel's Facilities Technology Development. "This is indicative of their outstanding customer support and on-going drive for continuous improvement. They have become the benchmark in quality for facilities systems suppliers to Intel."

"We are very pleased that Intel has recognized our quality products and services by giving us its highest award again," said Dr. Jurg Krebser, head of George Fischer Piping Systems. "It shows that we are right on track with our strategy of continuous quality improvement and delivering fast, dependable problem solutions that give all-important value added for our customer."

The SCQI awards are part of Intel's Supplier Continuous Quality Improvement process that encourages Intel's key suppliers to strive for excellence and continuous improvement. To qualify for SCQI status, suppliers must score high on a report card that assesses performance and ability to meet cost, quality, availability, technology and responsiveness goals. Suppliers must also manage and deliver on a challenging improvement plan and a quality systems assessment.

Intel also recognized SCQI award winners earlier in the year with an advertisement in the U.S., European and Asian editions of The Wall Street Journal.

Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products.

George Fischer Piping Systems, Schaffhausen, Switzerland, is a supplier of industrial, domestic and distribution piping systems. The products include piping, automated valves, instrumentation and pipe joining technology for high purity polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). George Fischer has been the supplier of choice for Intel's high purity needs since 1991 supplying all these products while expanding the scope in supply chain ownership and management. For more information about the company visit www.us.piping.georgefischer.com.