CTS Corporation U.K. Ltd. Receives Mitel Telecom Supplier-of-the-Year Award for 1998 and Named Backplane Supplier-of-Choice for 1999.

ELKHART, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 19, 1999--CTS Corporation U.K. Ltd., Glasgow, Scotland, has been honored with the Mitel Telecom Supplier-of-the-Year Award for manufacturing excellence in 1998. The prestigious award is in recognition of the "best-in-class" performance and sustained commitment to continuous improvement through the LINKS initiative. LINKS (Learning and Innovation Network for Key Suppliers) is a strategic initiative formulated by Mitel in an effort to meet and exceed market performance levels through the development of strong supplier partnerships. The CTS Interconnect Systems business of CTS Corporation U.K. Ltd. has supplied Mitel with backplane products for the Business Communications Industry for over ten years.

Through formal evaluation, CTS successfully met Mitel's key performance metrics, which included: Partnership Qualities, Product Quality Performance (PPM), On-time Delivery Performance, Continuity of Supply, Flexibility, Price/Competitiveness and Electronic Commerce.

Accepting the award on behalf of CTS, Ian Archer, Vice President and General Manager of Interconnect Systems, stated: "This award represents another successful step in the close business partnership between Mitel Telecom and CTS Corporation." Facing significant competition from other key Mitel Telecom suppliers, CTS was commended for their ongoing, proactive approach towards process reengineering and the significant reduction in lead-time performance.

Recognizing the business relationship and commitment to service that CTS has provided, Mitel Telecom has additionally named CTS Corporation U.K. Ltd., as their Backplane Supplier-of-Choice for 1999.

Mitel Telecom is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of semiconductors, subsystems and systems for the communications industries. Mitel Telecom manufactures integrated and hybrid circuits, optoelectronic devices and custom silicon wafers, voice communications systems, networked voice and data systems, Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) products, client/server telecom products, public switching systems, and alternate network and remote access products. Mitel's leadership strategy is centered on developing strong microelectronics technology and advancing person-to-person communications in an open, distributed and standards based environment.

For additional news on CTS Corporation, visit our website at www.ctscorp.com...Home Page...What's New.

CTS Corporation, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, (NYSE:CTS) is primarily a diversified manufacturer of electronic components and custom assemblies principally for the computer equipment, automotive and communications equipment markets. The Company, headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana, operates manufacturing plants in the United States and abroad.