Media Contact:
Alicia Bowers
GE Fanuc Automation
410-242-0300, alicia.bowers@gefanuc.com  

CAROL STREAM, Ill.-July 2, 2002 - Start magazine has named GE Fanuc Automation, an affiliate of GE Industrial Systems, as one of the Hottest Companies of 2002. Each year, the Start Hottest Companies list seeks to identify and honor companies that can help improve the overall profitability and efficiency of manufacturers.

"GE Fanuc was one of only 19 companies that we believe is consistently striving to change the manufacturing-technology landscape with the highest level of industry expertise, the widest array of products and services, and a continued commitment to technological innovation," said Peggy Smedley, editorial director of Start. "We are truly proud to recognize GE Fanuc, and we believe that it is well on track to fulfill the goal that it set out to achieve this past year. As our list reveals only a handful of companies have been able to persevere and even prosper like GE Fanuc this past year."

According to the magazine, Start's editorial team selected GE Fanuc for this designation because the company has introduced significant technological advances for manufacturers during the past year, in spite of the challenging and turbulent economic climate. Additionally, GE Fanuc has successfully changed to a solutions-based company under the leadership of new President and CEO Charlene Begley.

"It is a great honor to receive the designation of 'Hot Company' from Start magazine, a leading industry publication, and be recognized for our strong ability to help manufacturers increase competitiveness and drive out cost," Begley said. "With our new solutions focus, we are combining the two leading initiatives at GE - Six Sigma and Digitization - which have helped the company save billions of dollars and maintain a global leadership position. Manufacturers can now tap the expertise of one of the largest companies in the world and take advantage of our proven methods to bring products to market faster, raise quality, reduce inventory, and generate a higher return on investment."

About GE Fanuc Automation
GE Fanuc Automation North America, Inc., is a leading global supplier of automation solutions and is a joint venture between GE and FANUC, LTD of Japan. GE Fanuc products and services include CIMPLICITY®collaborative production management software, nano to high-end PLCs, a wide range of CNCs, motion control, operator interfaces, industrial computers, critical control and safety systems, lasers, and a wide range of integration and customer support services. Headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., GE Fanuc is part of GE Industrial Systems. For more information, visit www.gefanuc.com. 

About GE Industrial Systems
GE Industrial Systems spans the globe as an industry leader in integrated industrial equipment, systems and services. The business brings to customers the latest technological products used to distribute, protect and control electrical power and equipment, and provides innovative product and service solutions for commercial, industrial, residential and utility applications. Headquartered in Plainville, Connecticut, USA, GE Industrial Systems (www.geindustrial.com) is one of the major businesses of the General Electric Company.

For more information, visit www.gefanuc.com or contact:
GE Fanuc Information Center Phone: (800) 648-2001
P.O. Box 8106 Fax: 434-978-5205
Charlottesville, VA 22906 e-mail: gefanuc@gefanuc.com