Kennametal Inc., a leading company in metal cutting tools, providing customised and standard wear resistant solutions to customers worldwide, is pleased to announce that it has won the "Service Brand Excellence" award in the first Metal Cutting Tools Service User Satisfaction Contest in China.

This contest is organised and sponsored by Machinery & Electronics Business, Metal Cutting Magazine, CIMES2012 and China Metal Cutting Tool Engineering Association. The result is based on nearly 2,000 effective questionnaires collected from front-line process managing personnel of ten major industries including automobile and parts, aerospace, power and energy, engineering machinery, tool and die, medical instruments, shipbuilding, consumer electronics, track transportation, and general hardware manufacturing.

Among 38 nominated brands that are actively operating in the Chinese market, Kennametal Inc., stands out and was awarded "Service Brand Excellence" in the foreign company category. Stanley Chew, Managing Director of Kennametal, Greater China Region received the award at the award ceremony. Representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Information, China Metal Cutting Tool Engineering Association, and China Machine and Tool Builders' Association were also present at the event.

In response to the fierce competition, Kennametal has developed its own characteristic services in various areas to attract customers. Stanley Chew said, "In order to assist customers to better manage their tools and applications, we offer a tool management system called Toolboss; IN CHINA, FOR CHINA. To provide rapid service to our customers, we have invested millions of dollars to build factories manufacturing non-standard tools for Chinese customers and meet demands for quick delivery. In addition, last

October we established a Repairing and Reconditioning center, a showroom and a solution center in Shanghai, all for the purpose of improving our service." He also pointed out that with the continuous growth in market demand, customers' service expectations increase. It was a great honor for the Greater China team to receive this award. Furthermore, it is positive recognition of Kennametal's outstanding performance in the competition among top companies in the cutting tool industry.

(Satish S Melinamani, Kennametal India Limited, Bangalore. Tel: 080-43281203. Email: satish.melinamani@kennametal.com)