E-Z-GO 2004 Annual Report Download - page 25

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Item 1. Business of Textron
primarily on price, quality, delivery, service, support and reputation. In addition, larger customers of fastening systems and
engineered assemblies primarily tend to procure products and services from the larger suppliers. TFS’ broad range of products,
customers and markets reduces its risk of a business loss that would have a material adverse effect on Textron.
Industrial Segment The Industrial Segment is composed of our E-Z-GO, Jacobsen, Kautex, Greenlee and Fluid & Power businesses.
E-Z-GO
E-Z-GO designs, manufactures and sells golf cars and off-road utility vehicles powered by electric and internal combustion
engines under the E-Z-GO name, as well as multipurpose utility vehicles under the E-Z-GO and Cushman brand names.
E-Z-GO’s commercial customers consist primarily of golf courses, resort communities and municipalities, as well as commercial
and industrial users such as airports and factories. E-Z-GO’s off-road utility vehicles and golf cars are also sold into the consumer
market. Sales are made through a network of distributors and directly to end users. Many of E-Z-GO’s sales are financed through
Textron Financial Corporation.
E-Z-GO has two major competitors for golf cars and several other competitors for utility vehicles. Competition is based primarily
on price, quality, product support, performance, reliability and reputation.
Jacobsen
Jacobsen designs, manufactures and sells professional turf maintenance equipment, lawn care machinery and specialized indus-
trial vehicles. Major brand names include Ransomes, Jacobsen, Cushman, Ryan, Steiner, Brouwer, Bunton and Bob-Cat.
Jacobsen’s commercial customers consist primarily of golf courses, resort communities and municipalities, as well as commercial
and industrial users such as airports, factories and professional lawn care services. Sales are made through a network of distribu-
tors and directly to end-users. Many sales are financed through Textron Financial Corporation.
Jacobsen has two major competitors for professional turf maintenance equipment and several other competitors for specialized
industrial vehicles and professional lawn care machinery. Competition is based primarily on price, quality, product support, per-
formance, reliability and reputation.
Kautex
Kautex, headquartered in Bonn, Germany, is a leading global manufacturer of blow-molded fuel systems and other blow-molded
parts for automobile original equipment manufacturers and other industrial customers. Kautex operates plants in all major markets
around the world. Kautex is also a leading supplier of windshield and headlamp washer systems in the original equipment auto-
mobile market. In North America, Kautex also produces metal fuel fillers and engine camshafts for the automotive market and auto-
matic assembly machines and systems, perishable tools and abrasives, and hydraulic components for industrial markets. In
Germany, Kautex produces plastic containers and sheeting for household and industrial uses.
Revenues of Kautex accounted for approximately 15%, 15% and 12% of our total revenues in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
Kautex has a number of competitors worldwide, some of whom are owned by the automotive original equipment manufacturers
that compose Kautex’s targeted customer base. Competition is typically based on a number of factors including price, quality, rep-
utation, prior experience and available manufacturing capacity.
Greenlee
Greenlee consists of Greenlee, Klauke and Tempo. These companies manufacture powered equipment, electrical test and measure-
ment instruments, hand and hydraulic powered tools, and electrical and fiber optic connectors under the Greenlee, Fairmont,
Klauke and Tempo brand names. The products are principally used in the electrical construction and maintenance, telecommuni-
cations and plumbing industries, and are distributed through a global network of sales representatives and distributors, and also
directly to home improvement retailers and original equipment manufacturers. The Greenlee businesses face competition from
numerous manufacturers based primarily on price, quality, performance, reliability, delivery and reputation. On December 31,
2004, Textron entered into a joint venture, Rothenberger LLC, with Rothenberger AG to manufacture and sell plumbing tools
in the U.S. and Canada. Through a series of transactions during 2004 and concluding in February 2005, Textron divested its
InteSys Technologies business, a manufacturer of injection molded components and assemblies for telecommunications and
other markets.