Visteon Prototype Center Dedicated at University of Detroit Mercy

VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich., Oct. 1, 2004 -- The Visteon Prototype Center, which will allow engineering students to transform innovations and ideas into three-dimensional working models, was officially opened in a dedication ceremony Thursday, Sept. 30, at the University of Detroit Mercy campus.

Made possible by a grant from Visteon Corporation , the state- of-the-art engineering and product development facility will enable engineering students to extend their analytical education beyond the classroom and receive hands-on experience in the fabrication of physical prototypes.

"Visteon is proud of its partnership with University of Detroit Mercy," said John Kill, Visteon's senior vice president of product development. "We are pleased to contribute to the University's 125-year tradition of educational and engineering excellence. As one of the largest automotive suppliers in the world, Visteon is in the business of engineering excellence and we take seriously our commitment to helping develop the engineers of the future."

Dr. Leo Hanifin, University of Detroit Mercy's dean of the College of Engineering and Science, thanked Visteon for making the Visteon Prototype Center possible. "Detroit is being challenged by both traditional and emerging automotive competition to quickly bring a succession of exceptional products to market. Likewise, Detroit's engineers are being challenged to be the design resource of choice to develop those products," Hanifin said. "The students who learn in these labs will leave University of Detroit Mercy with capabilities that will allow them to compete effectively with any engineer anywhere. They will know how to use the computer-based tools and prototyping methods that are needed today in the global engineering enterprise. And they will help companies like Visteon remain at the top of the global automotive industry."

The dedication ceremony was attended by University of Detroit Mercy alumni and a number of university dignitaries, including Father Gerard L. Stockhausen, the newly inaugurated president of the university.

Visteon Corporation is a leading full-service supplier that delivers consumer-driven technology solutions to automotive manufacturers worldwide and through multiple channels within the global automotive aftermarket. Visteon has approximately 72,000 employees and a global delivery system of more than 200 technical, manufacturing, sales and service facilities located in 25 countries.