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Progressive Components Welcomes Winton as R&D Manager

WAUCONDA, IL (December 27, 2004) – Progressive Components, a leading supplier of tooling components for the injection mold, blow mold and die cast die industries worldwide, welcomes Randy Winton as R&D Manager for its global operations. Winton officially took his post on December 1st.

In his capacity as R&D Manager, Winton will research and develop custom components, offer insights on improving existing standards, and provide direction for Progressive's mold maintenance software program, ProFile®. He will also be on call for any technical issues that arise with Progressive’s customers. Winton will spend about 40% of his time at Progressive’s Singapore office and the balance of his time traveling throughout the US, looking for ways to improve applications and processes.

Winton joins Progressive after having completed working 32 years for PDE, SPPI and Owens Illinois, where he was involved in everything from tool room level activities to implementing mold maintenance systems across plants and relocating plants, including recently establishing an O-I molding operation in Singapore.

Winton has worked in manufacturing, first as a machinist and eventually a toolmaker, since graduating high school in 1967. His plastic injection mold experience started in 1972 when he was employed by Product Design and Engineering, Golden Valley, MN, to work in their tool room making components and repairing molds. He worked on the bench as a toolmaker eventually being promoted to Lead Person & Supervisor.

PDE, as it was known locally, was a closure molder starting with 12 molding machines and eventually grew to 28. In the mid 80's PDE was purchased by Specialty Packaging Products Inc. (SPPI) whose core business was Trigger Sprayer and Finger pump dispensers. Winton’s role continued in various capacities from manager of the tool room to other molding improvement projects.

In 1992 Owens Illinois purchased SPPI but in 1993 decided to close the factory. Winton, however, was kept on board and utilized as a technical resource for the managing and maintenance of injection molds in all of their injection facilities. Since that time he has worked in various capacities from Supervisor to Tooling Engineer and was termed a 'road warrior' because he worked from his home in Minnesota and traveled across the U.S. and Puerto Rico each week over the last ten years while reporting to O-I's Plastic Division Closure Injection Mold Engineering Manager in Toledo, OH.

Eventually Winton became a Principal Engineer helping lead the relocation, set up & start up of O-I’s Franklin, IN, injection molding operation to Singapore, where it now molds components for ink jet cartridges.

“I like to think of myself as a Toolmaker but with some unique experiences which could not be taught from a classroom or by reading a book,” says Winton. “I look forward to lending my experiences to Progressive Components, helping the company serve its customers more comprehensively than ever.”

“Progressive feels fortunate to have someone with the caliber of Randy’s experience join our team,” says Glenn Starkey, President. “Randy will bring some hands-on development work to further advance tooling standards.”

To reach Randy Winton, or for more information about Progressive Components, call 800-269-6653 (outside the U.S. call 847-487-1000) or visit Progressive’s website at www.procomps.com.