Company News.

* Transamerica Distribution Finance has introduced Dealer Online, an Internet business service for dealers who use their financing. Users can get real time information, obtain order approvals, view their accounts, search open inventory within dealer populations and communicate directly with a customer service rep. The service is free to participating dealers. Transamerica has also formed a long-term strategic alliance with Partek, the Finnish-based engineering and manufacturing company. Transamerica will provide customized leasing and financing programs for Partek material handling and logging machinery, port and terminal tractor trucks and agricultural equipment.

* Case Corporation has completed a manufacturing agreement with Orthman Manufacturing, Inc., Lexington, NE, to offer an expanded line of row crop cultivators. A Case spokesman said the addition of the Orthman lines enabled Case to offer a complete line of row crop cultivators for conventional tillage to high residue conditions.

* Specialty Agricultural Products, Inc., a holding company, is relocating its Lockwood Manufacturing operation from Gering, NE, to Crary Company in West Fargo, ND. The consolidation move is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

* Beeall Manufacturing, Inc., East Alton, IL, has acquired the lawn and garden division of Lund International Corp., Hudson, MA. Under the name Cutting Specialists Inc. (CSI), the division will continue to produce rotary mower blades, flails and other metal stampings in two facilities in McKenzie and Paris, TN.

* Gehl Company, West Bend, WI, has repurchased 725,900 shares of common stock, representing 11.2 percent of the company's outstanding stock, from James H. Dahl and affiliates. Price per share was $20.50. William D. Gehl, chairman, president and CEO of Gehl, said this repurchase does not impact its previously announced open market repurchase plan.

* Peer Bearing Company has moved into new 300,000 sq. lt. world headquarters in Waukegan, IL. The facility houses the administrative, sales and warehouse activities in addition to expanded final assembly, quality control and engineering.

* Tractor Supply Co., Nashville, TN, has opened a "virtual mall" on the Internet, becoming the first national farm supply retailer to launch an electronic retail site. The web location (www.tractorsupplyco.com) will include "stores" that carry the product lines of TSO's vendors.

* Equipment Manufacturers Institute (EMI) has named Deere & Company as winner of the Dick Harris Data Integrity Award at EMI's Spring Construction Equipment Conference. This is the second consecutive year Deere has received the award for "timeliness, accuracy, consistency and good corporate citizenship. The award honors the late Dick Harris, who was employed by International Harvester and Komatsu America, for his help in developing the EMI statistics program.

In addition to Deere & Company, ten companies were named to EMI's 100% Club for for their participation in statistical reporting: American Auger, Inc., Babson Bros. Company, Bou-Matic Dairy Equipment Company, Champion Road Machinery Ltd., JLG Industries, Inc., Melfred Borzall, Paul Mueller Company, Snorkel-Economy, UpRight, Inc., and Worksaver, Inc.

* E/M Engineered Coating Solutions has relocated its world headquarters to Peachtree City, GA, from West Lafayette, IN. All E/M solid film coatings are formulated at the Peachtree City facility.

* Metals USA, Inc., Houston, TX, announced that all of its operating units have incorporated Metals USA into their company names in order to enhance the company as a single-source, national supplier with a single brand. Metals USA provides heavy carbon steel, flat-rolled steel, specialty metals and aluminum building products.

* Terex Corporation, Westport, CT, has announced acquisition of Powerscreen International, Dungannon, Northern Ireland, a company which manufacturers screening, crushing and material handling equipment. Terex plans to integrate the Powerscreen's products with Terex's earthmoving, material handling and light equipment businesses.

* Dutch Industries Ltd., Pilot Butte, SK, Canada, has named Sunmotor International Ltd., Olds, AB, Canada, as the exclusive Internet distributor of the Delta Junior and the Delta 16 wind powered water pumpers.

* Perkins Engines has a new two-year warranty for its Series 100, 700, 900, 1000 and 1300 Edi engines. The warranty applies to engines manufactured after January 1, 1999, sold through the Perkins North American network and operated in North America.

* SuperPac Compaction, Cambridge, ON, Canada, a division of Champion Road Machinery, has been sold to a consortium of company managers and employees. Ray Gallant has been named president. SuperPac manufactures compaction equipment for the North American construction and road building industries.

* Tuthill Transport Technologies, Hinsdale, IL, is the new name rising from the acquisition and merger of two companies in heavy duty suspension and off-road axle industries, Fluidrive, Inc., Brookston, IN, and Reyco Industries, Springfield, MO. The new company will retain the Mud Hog brand name for hydraulic axles for off-highway equipment. A new brand name, Reyco/Granning, will be used for suspension products for on-road equipment.

* Textron, Inc. has acquired Energy Mfg. Co., Monticello, IA, and Williams Machine & Tool Co., Omaha, NE. The two companies produce welded hydraulic cylinders, valves, pumps and reservoirs. They will be integrated with Textron's motion control products businesses into the fluid and power systems group.

* HydraForce Inc., Linconshire, IL, and Axiomatic Technologies Corp., Mississauga, ON, Canada, have formed an alliance to design and dew, lop the next generation of electro-hydraulic control products for off-highway and mobile equipment applications. A number of new products are expected to be announced in the near future.

Certifications & Awards

* Behlen Mfg. Co., Columbus, NE, metal buildings and grain dryers -- ISO 9001

* Borg-Warner Automotive Turbo Systems, Asheville, NC, turbochargers and vibration dampers -- QS-9000

* Danfoss Fluid Power, Inc., Racine, WI, hydraulic products -- Caterpillar Certification

* Groendyk Manufacturing Co., Buchanan, VA, silicone and organic rubber -- Governor's Award for Excellence

* Lutco Ball Bearings, Worcester, MA -- ISO 9001

* Norfolk Iron & Metal Co., Norfolk, NE, steel service center -- ISO 9002

* Peer Bearing Company, Waukegan, IL -- Case Qualified Supplier

* Penn Engineering & Manufacturing Corp., Quality Management System, Danboro, PA -- QS-9000

People

Rod Keech has been appointed vice president for business development for New Holland N.V. He will be responsible for all new initiative product and market activities and will oversee the company's operations in India and all its joint ventures. Robert A. Bernardi was appointed vice president for hay-tools and skid steer loader global product lines. He replaces Allen Rider, who was named vice president for New Holland's North American commercial operations.

AGCO Corporation has made the following individuals to its global sales and marketing team: Edward R. Swingle, senior vice president for sales and marketing in the Americas; Adri Verhagen, senior vice president sales and marketing for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and East Asia/Pacific; Dean B. Barnard, vice president of sales for North America; Declan F. Hayden, vice president of sales for Europe; and Jack G. Murdoch, vice president of Massey Ferguson brand marketing for North America.

Simplicity Manufacturing, Inc., Port Washington, WI, has elected three new members to its board of directors: James A. Wier, president and CEO for Simplicity; Ranjit S. Bhonsle, Kohlberg & Company, and Thomas A Gildehaus, retired chairman and CEO of Northwestern Steel and Wire Co. Simplicity's products include riding mowers, lawn and garden tractors and tillers.

Spectra Precision, Inc., Dayton, OH, has named Karl Ramstrom CEO. He was previously head of the company's surveying division and CEO of the company in Sweden, positions which Anders Rhodin will now occupy. Hans Gylesjo has been appointed CEO of Spectra Precision Software in Atlanta, GA. Spectra Precision's products include construction lasers, machine control systems, survey instruments and software.