Kyocera and Kennametal Agree on Alliance

Kyocera Corp. has signed a product supply agreement with Kennametal Inc., based in Latrobe, Pa., U.S.A. The agreement includes various initiatives such as private labeling, cross-licensing and sales and marketing.

The agreement is global in scope and is designed to complement the existing product lines of each company. Both Kennametal and Kyocera plan to grow sales of each others' product lines worldwide. Additionally, each company will continue to sell its own products through its established channels.

"This agreement will enable each company to leverage the strength of the other in different geographical regions," commented Yukihiro Takarabe, Kyocera Corporation Executive Officer and General Manager of the Corporate Cutting Tool Group. "As Kyocera strives to expand its global footprint, adding complementary advanced cutting tools from Kennametal, such as solid endmills, holemaking tools, and milling products, will strengthen our product lines and establish Kyocera as a global player," he concluded.

Kennametal Vice President and President of Metalworking Solutions and Services Group Ron Keating said: "This agreement supports our growth strategies very well. Today's announcement presents both companies with the opportunity to offer more products, reduce costs and increase each other's production capacity utilization. Our ability to mutually complement and enhance product lines in key regions will, most importantly, enable us to offer the best possible service to our customers."

The companies will provide details of the products and services to be offered at the 2007 EMO, (Exposition Mondiale de la Machine Outil), show beginning September 17, in Hanover, Germany.

Kennametal
Kyocera