NOTE receives major order from Åkerströms

NOTE has been selected as a partner by electronics company Åkerströms Trux AB in fierce competition. NOTE will manufacture industrial computers for forklift trucks for Åkerströms, which is having great success on the global market with this product. The order value is estimated at SEK 30 million in the initial year, and will grow further. Production will take place at NOTE in Torsby, Sweden, the group's Centre of Excellence for aerospace/industrial applications.

Åkerströms has great success with its proprietary ruggedised computers for trucks, the Trux series. Recently, Åkerströms was selected as a forklift supplier to Ford in the USA. The order is the largest in the company's history. Ford has a total of 17 production facilities in the US and they are now equipping their trucks at all factories with the wireless ruggedised truck computers from Åkerströms.

- The market for forklift computers is tough and places high demands on quality and delivery times. It's also a high-growth market, which means choosing the right contract manufacturer is a critical choice. We've chosen NOTE because we're confident they'll meet our high standards of quality and reliability," says Mikael Andersson, CEO of Åkerströms.

The contract with Åkerströms means that NOTE is responsible for the complete production of truck computers. Deliveries will start in May 2004 and are estimated to have an order value of SEK 30 million in the initial year. The contract runs over several years and may be extended further.

- It's very honourable and gratifying for NOTE that Åkerströms chose us in competition with our competitors, says Erik Stenfors, CEO of NOTE. Åkerströms is a highly reputable company and a new customer for us. We look forward to a close collaboration with them that will be fruitful for both of us.

The wireless computers are installed in warehouse trucks and used to streamline the logistics flow. As the computers are used in a harsh, industrial environment, the requirements for reliability and durability are very high.

NOTE will be building a dedicated production group for forklift computers at the group's new plant in Torsby. Torsby's CEO, Gerd Levin-Nygren, was recently named Manager of the Year by Chef magazine. Gerd has been recognised for changing the reputation of the Torsby factory through her empathetic leadership. The business is also expanding strongly, and there is a lot of job satisfaction at NOTE Torsby.

Pictures of the Trux computer are available at:
http://www.akerstroms.se/pressbilder.asp

Further information is provided by:
Erik Stenfors, President and CEO of NOTE
Tel: 0176-799 01 or 0709-50 80 70
e-mail: erik.stenfors@note.se

Gerd Levin-Nygren, CEO of NOTE Torsby,
Tel: 0708-11 68 48
e-mail: gerd.levin-nygren@torsby.note.se

Mikael Andersson, President and CEO Åkerströms
Tel: 0705-15 26 00
e-mail: mikael.andersson@akerstroms.se

Emma Dahlén, Marketing Director, Åkerströms
Tel: 0703-03 38 39
e-mail: emma.dahlen@akerstroms.se

About the NOTE Group
NOTE is one of Sweden's leading contract manufacturers of electronics, with over 30 years of experience in the sector. We offer production close to the market via ems-ALLIANCETM - a global network of electronics manufacturers with partners in Brazil, China, India, Italy and the USA. In total, the group has over 900 employees. In Sweden, we have six production plants/Centres of Excellence and two sales offices/Gateways. Outside Sweden, we have a factory in Lithuania, and operations in Central Europe managed from our office in Gdansk, Poland.
The Board of Directors of NOTE has announced its intention to list NOTE on the Stockholm Stock Exchange by 2005. www.note.se

About Åkerströms
Åkerströms Trux AB develops and sells robust truck computers for warehouse and production environments. Already in the late 70s, Åkerströms developed the technology for wireless data transmission and has since then developed wireless communication for terminals and computers. In 1995, Åkerströms began manufacturing the market's leading ruggedised PC for extreme environments. Trux is the product family of forklift computers designed to withstand the daily rigours of industry: vibration, shock, moisture, dust, cold and high heat. Åkerströms Trux AB is part of the Åkerströms Group, which is expanding on the international market through a global partner network. Today, Åkerströms has partners in the Nordic countries, Europe and the USA. Headquartered in Sweden, Åkerströms is owned by Brainheart Capital. In 2003, Åkerströms had a turnover of SEK 120 million and 80 employees. www.akerstroms.se