Yokogawa Electric Corporation announced that it has entered into a partnership agreement with Aventis Pharma as a global supplier of Process Automation Systems (PAS) for the worldwide plant automation of its Industrial Operations API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients). Yokogawa's delivery scope not only comprises the supply of distributed control systems but also the extensive turn-key engineering for the automation of very complex and large pharmaceutical plants.

In particular the agreement is also related to all those issues which are relevant for a successful managing of automation projects in the pharmaceutical industry in strict observance of all FDA regulations.

"In a more than 10 years lasting successful and excellent co-operation with Aventis, Yokogawa proved it's high performance standards in many projects. After the successful managing of large projects in these years, we are very glad that by concluding the global partnership agreement with us Aventis expressed their confidence in Yokogawa on long term," said Hans-Wilhelm Thomes, system sales manager of Yokogawa Germany. "We are convinced that the global partnership agreement and the mutual activities of the Key Account Management will lead to a continuous improvement of processes that will create real values for Aventis and Yokogawa," said Hans Dik, President of Yokogawa Europe.
"Our products are based on long-term solutions, consistency of our product line, respect for user requirements, technically advanced and reliable," Akira Nagashima, Yokogawa executive vice president, said. We will remain on the cutting edge of technical excellence and will continue investing in R & D, in process automation, as this field of automation is Yokogawa's core business - our global service and support network.
"Yokogawa is very proud to belong to one of the 50 most important suppliers of Aventis Pharma," said Akira Nagashima. Under this agreement, a steering committee comprising both Yokogawa and Aventis Pharma representatives will set up a Key Account Management structure and team to turn theory in real action and create values for Aventis and Yokogawa.
"Yokogawa is seen as a key global leader in process automation and based on API 10 years positive experiences we believe that Yokogawa is a global supplier for Aventis Pharma production facilities worldwide. Close co-operation on a global base and synergy on the process automation between Aventis and Yokogawa will create benefit for us", said Dr. Hanns Erle, worldwide head of Aventis Pharma API operations.

About Aventis
Aventis (NYSE: AVE) is dedicated to improving life through the discovery and development of innovative pharmaceutical products. In 2000, Aventis generated group sales of $ 22.3 billion and employed around 92,500 people in its Pharma and Agriculture businesses. Corporate headquarters are in Strasbourg, France. For more information, please visit: www.aventis.com

Aventis Pharma AG is the pharmaceutical company of Aventis. Aventis Pharma is dedicated to treating and preventing human disease through the discovery, development, manufacture and sale of innovative pharmaceutical products aimed at satisfying unmet medical needs. Aventis Pharma focuses on important therapeutic areas such as cardiology, oncology, infectious diseases, arthritis, allergies and respiratory disorders, diabetes and the central nervous system disorders. Aventis Pharma has its corporate headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. Aventis Pharma encompasses Aventis Pasteur, a world leader in vaccines based in Lyon, France, and Aventis Behring, a world leader in therapeutic proteins headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, USA.