Copyright 2006, 07, 08, 09. Impco Technologies Corp.

Copyright 2006, 07, 08, 09. Impco Technologies Corp.

1 9 5 7 Recognizing the performance capabilities of alternative fuels for car engines, Herbert Hills and Richard Baverstock launched Imperial Machine Products Company (later known as IMPCO) to develop and sell a price-competitive and improved quality gaseous fuel product line. Used for all types and sizes of internal combustion engines, the products were initially designed for automotive applications. Herbert Hills Herbert Hills, IMPCO s first president, was the technical sales representative for Century Carburetion, traveling the world in support of technical services and customer applications. He left to start his own machining company Avalon Machine Screw Products. Herbert used profits from selling this company to start IMPCO. Richard Baverstock, IMPCO s first vice president, worked for Century Carburetion before joining the Navy at the start of WWII. After the war, he returned to Century Carburetion as the head designer, bringing the 3C carburetor to market. Richard Baverstock

1 9 5 7 Back then, we were a small, family-oriented company. The culture was such that everyone s ideas were good. It didn t matter who it came from. The founders were open to everything that was brought up. Pat Slingerland, OEM Sales Manager, IMPCO Technologies The first IMPCO factory, which opened at the end of 1957, was located in a small Quonset hut on Dolores Street in South Gate, California. From its entrepreneurial beginnings 50 years ago, IMPCO has evolved into an undisputed global leader in alternative fuels systems.

1 9 5 8 Don Bass was IMPCO s first employee. He was hired after a three year stint on the NASCAR circuit as an engineer with Dodge, Bill Stroppe and the Mercury racing team. Don used his extensive knowledge as an engine and fuel specialist to establish IMPCO s racing programs building greater awareness for the products. He also developed and taught IMPCO s training classes around the world. Don built some of the best racing engines for race boats and Baja off-road trucks, along with a dragster named Propane X to run solely on propane. Don was instrumental in the development of the Clean Air Car, which used propane as an alternative fuel and was promoted by the Propane Gas Association. These vehicles all proved the advantages and performance of propane.

1 9 5 8 AK MILLER, A LEGEND AMONG RACERS worldwide, was instrumental to IMPCO s growth and leadership in the use of alternative fuels. He brought his expertise as a driver to IMPCO s products. Ak was a major racer having raced the Bonneville Salt Flats and road races in Italy and Mexico, setting land speed records in propane-powered vehicles along the way. Ak was also president of the Southern California Timing Association and vice president of the National Hot Rod Association. A visionary in the use of turbocharging for propane vehicles, Ak won the world-renowned Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in a propane-fueled vehicle in 1958. The second oldest motor sports race in America, it consists of 156 twisting turns taking racers up 12.4 miles of America s Mountain. This race significantly raised the level of awareness for IMPCO s products and the use of propane. Ak remained instrumental in testing and improving IMPCO s products, pushing the limits of innovation for alternative fuel applications for automobiles. This was the heyday of the hot rod. The products we created had to perform well they had to win races. The benefit of these great products was that they also happened to be good for the environment. Rick Nielsen, General Manager, IMPCO Technologies

1 9 5 8 THE CA300A Carburetor KNOWN AS THE IMPERIAL was IMPCO s first product. This was a revolutionary design for the marketplace because it gave more people the opportunity to convert their cars to cleaner-burning, high-performance fuels. IMPCO was the first to develop propane products that could be used by the general public. Released in 1958 for the automotive market, the liquid gas automotive component enabled cars to operate on propane. This carburetor moved IMPCO to a leadership position and set the stage for the company s continued growth. IMPCO was earning a reputation for the most durable, highest-quality products in the marketplace, further setting the industry standard. The genius of the CA300A carburetor was that it was dual fuel. It could be placed on top of the engine with the existing carburetor, which allowed conversion of the gasolinepowered car to run on propane while still retaining the gasoline and it all fit under your hood. This was revolutionary technology. Peter Chase, Chief Operating Officer, IMPCO Technologies

1 9 6 0 In the early 60s, the CA100 carburetor was released for entry into the forklift markets. The propane forklift fuel components were followed by IMPCO s first natural gas product line. These cleaner-burning fuels were a great solution over gasoline, significantly reducing the level of CO 2 emissions indoors. Plus they were easy to use and the systems were safe for the drivers. These products addressed the fueling advantages of alternative fuel for off-highway industrial vehicles. An important business line then, the forklift industrial market remains IMPCO s biggest market today. In 1967 A.J. Industries, a holding company located in Los Angeles, invested in IMPCO allowing the purchase of a new, bigger production facility in Cerritos, California. At the time, this was a state-of-the-art facility where IMPCO could do more testing with a vehicle dyno and further development. Here, the company conducted training classes and hired more people increasing its production. This period also marked a name change from Imperial Machine Products Company to IMPCO Carburetion.

1 9 7 0 THIS DECADE MARKED THE DEVELOPMENT OF IMPCO S HEAVY DUTY PRODUCT LINE for use in large stationary applications. This system replaced diesel, allowing clean burning fuels to be used for standby generation systems in hospitals and commercial buildings, farm irrigation equipment and fuel oil patch applications, among others. The company s innovation and quality products helped to establish a foothold in the market, encouraging IMPCO s leadership in these alternative fuels applications. 1975 signifies THE BEGINNING of established emissions certification requirements. IMPCO began product development under these regulations and established critical long-standing relationships with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These agencies were regulating the emissions levels allowed in automotive vehicles. Since few gasoline cars could meet these levels, propane became a preferred choice in meeting the requirements. The gasoline shortages of 1974 and 1978 further entrenched IMPCO and propane as a fuel of choice in automobiles. IMPCO took a leadership role with the products and the technology needed to meet these demands. It marked a turning point because IMPCO began selling complete systems that encompassed the regulator, carburetor and lock off as opposed to individual components. It also spurred the beginning of the company s global expansion. IMPCO began working with distributors in Japan, Europe, Mexico and Australia, later purchasing these companies to gain an international presence.

1 9 8 0 The purchase of Beam Products Company in the 80s added venturi product offerings. This moved IMPCO into smaller engines and filled out IMPCO s product line for specific applications. Now IMPCO could convert a wide range of engines, from ½ horsepower up to 5,000 horsepower, to alternative fuels. In 1989 IMPCO became a public company traded on the NASDAQ exchange. This significantly enhanced the company s visibility throughout the North American marketplace and on an international basis. Traded under IMCO, this move provided an important infusion of capital and resources to now increase production capacity, enhance quality standards and procedures, move into new leading-edge technologies and encourage national and worldwide expansion. 1 9 9 0 n Technisch Bureau Media BV (Holland) THE 90s MARKED RAPiD global growth through acquisitions FOR IMPCO. The following highlight these expansions: purchased in 1990 n Ateco Automotive Pty (Australia) purchased in July 1996 n Grupo IMPCO Mexicano established in 1997 n Mikuni (Japan) purchased in March 1999 n Minda IMPCO (India) established in 2001 by 1993 impco had outgrown the production facility in cerritos and moved next door to a building that was quadruple the size and capacity.

2 0 0 0 EPA AND CARB BEGAN ESTABLISHING VERY STRINGENT EMISSIONS REGULATIONS. IMPCO welcomed these initiatives because the firm had the technology, development and expertise to meet these ever-increasing and important environmental standards. From this point on, IMPCO offered complete certified engine packages to the major industrial original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). In May 2003, IMPCO acquired Italy-based BRC, a recognized global leader in automotive alternative fuels products. BRC s distribution and technical expertise, along with its compelling next-generation products, fit well with IMPCO s brand leadership and technologies. As IMPCO continued to expand on a global basis, I was pleased by the immense level of brand equity that was in place built over time and based on quality, high-performance products. Matthew Beale, President, Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc. Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSYS) was established as a publicly-traded holding company serving the automotive and industrial alternative fuels industries. The acquisition of BRC meant Fuel Systems Solutions could capture the global alternative fuels marketplace in both industrial under IMPCO and transportation under BRC. This also established the groundwork to launch the North American automotive alternative fuels systems line of products. IMPCO moved again in 2006, this time to Santa Ana, California, not far from where it all began. The new 210,000 square foot property comprised 30,000 square feet of office space and 90,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehousing space, housing all facets of the company s component design and assembly activities for products distributed worldwide.

2 0 0 9 The bi-fuel injection system allows people the benefit of converting to alternative fuels in such a way as to begin to make the technology part of their behavior. Eventually the U.S. infrastructure will adapt to alternative fuels, much as we have seen happen around the globe. Tim Standke, Director of Automotive Operations, IMPCO Technologies Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc. Launches the IMPCO Automotive division to manufacture its innovative alternative fuels solutions for the North American transportation market during the first quarter of 2009. IMPCO s bi-fuel injection system, already in use throughout the world, runs on propane or natural gas, along with gasoline. For the U.S., IMPCO s technology can help meet and, in many cases, exceed ever-increasing and stringent emission reduction goals for the automotive industry. This will encourage more cleaner-burning cars on the road sooner, a change that benefits everyone.

We have a competitive advantage because we ve been designing, testing, manufacturing and distributing our bi-fuel vapor sequential fuel injection systems for decades. We can leverage this bi-fuel technology from our industrial and transportation platforms to respond now to dramatic energy challenges that we face on a global level promoting energy security, reducing harmful pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality and reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Responding to these challenges benefits our clients, the consumer and ultimately, the planet. Mariano Costamagna, Chief Executive Officer, Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc.