SANTA CLARA, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- WhereNet Corp., a Zebra Technologies company (Nasdaq:ZBRA) and the leader in wireless solutions for tracking and managing enterprise assets, announced today that Navistar Defense has deployed the standards-based WhereNet(R) active RFID, real-time locating system (RTLS) to automate work-in-process tracking at its West Point, Mississippi, manufacturing facility. Implemented in 30 days, the system helps reduce production costs and accelerate delivery of the MaxxPro(TM) MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles for the United States Department of Defense. MaxxPro MRAP vehicles are designed to protect troops from roadside bombs and other growing threats in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"After a thorough evaluation of solutions providers, we selected WhereNet because its real-time visibility solution has a proven track record of reducing costs, improving quality, and expediting production in industrial manufacturing environments," said Rex Baldwin, IT project lead for Navistar Defense. "Among all of its other benefits, the system's impact on reducing cycle time aligns perfectly with our ultimate goal of rapidly delivering MRAP vehicles to the U.S. military to protect our troops in harm's way."

Spanning more than one million square feet indoors and out, the WhereNet system consists of a local infrastructure of 5 wireless WhereLAN(TM) location sensors and 13 WhereLAN locating access points that can be used for determining the location of assets as well as Wi-Fi mobile data communication; 400 active RFID WhereTag(TM) transmitters that are attached to MRAP chassis at the beginning of the armor-plating process; and WherePort(TM) magnetic "exciters" that trigger the transmitters to emit a signal when entering or leaving a specific work cell, enabling the system to automatically record such information as arrival, dwell, and departure time without any human intervention.

The WhereNet Visibility Software Suite (VSS) provides constant visibility for each tagged vehicle, enabling Navistar to track and manage the manufacturing of every MRAP vehicle as it passes through the assembly, paint, testing, adjustment, and inspection processes. After the on-site Defense Department officials perform the final testing on each finished MRAP vehicle, the WhereTag transmitters are removed, and the vehicles are loaded onto flatbed trailers for final delivery.

Navistar expects to realize a complete return on its investment in less than one year through numerous benefits, including:

-- Reduced labor cost for MRAP production processes, as the WhereNet system eliminates search time and automates much of the workflow

-- Increased throughput/reduced on-site dwell time

-- Higher-quality vehicles, as the system support Six Sigma standards and ensures that every finished vehicle meets the customer's specifications

Based on the rapid deployment and benefits the company has already gained from this initial implementation, Navistar will install additional WherePort devices this summer to provide more detailed event management reporting from the production line. Navistar is also evaluating WhereNet's vehicle tracking and management system (VTMS) software, which would leverage the same WhereLAN infrastructure and drive additional value and return on investment through enhanced workflow automation.

"We are proud to not only support Navistar's production processes, but also to provide value to our troops by shipping MRAP vehicles into theater sooner than ever before to ensure warfighters' safety from improvised explosive devices," said Jason Rushton, system architect for aerospace and defense, Zebra Enterprise Solutions. "From the manufacturing assembly line to maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities to logistics hubs located around the world, Zebra Enterprise Solutions drives value across the DoD supply chain by automating business processes and consistently delivering a complete ROI in a matter of months."

About Navistar Defense

Navistar Defense, formerly known as International Military and Government LLC, is a wholly owned affiliate of Navistar International Corporation (NAV) a holding company whose wholly owned subsidiaries produce International(R) brand commercial and military trucks, MaxxForce(TM) brand diesel engines, IC brand school and commercial buses, and Workhorse(R) brand chassis for motor homes and step vans. Navistar International also is a private-label designer and manufacturer of diesel engines for the pickup truck, van and SUV markets. The company also provides truck and diesel engine parts and service. Additional information is available at www.Navistar.com/newsroom.

About WhereNet Corp.

A Zebra Technologies company, WhereNet is the first company to deliver a single wireless location and communication infrastructure that reliably and cost-effectively manages valuable mobile resources and can deliver a complete return on investment within 6-12 months. Based on patented, standards-compliant technology resulting from a collective 100+ years of development, the WhereNet active RFID, real-time locating system solutions enable companies such as APL, BMW, Ford Motor Company, and NYK Logistics and facilities like Tobyhanna Army Depot to reduce inventory, lower operating costs, and improve operations. The company has received the Henry Ford Technology Award; was recognized for strong ROI by Computerworld magazine; was ranked among the top 10 in the InfoWorld 100; and has been recognized as a wireless innovator by Forrester Research, Global Logistics & Supply Chain Strategies, Plant Engineering, and Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazines. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, WhereNet has offices throughout the United States, as well as in Europe and Asia. For more information, visit the WhereNet web site at www.wherenet.com or call 408-845-8500 (in the U.S.), +32 3 286 84 50 (in Europe), or +86 21 51758558 (in Asia). Information about Zebra bar code, card and RFID products can be found at www.zebra.com.

WhereNet is a registered trademark, and WhereLAN, WherePort, and WhereTag are trademarks of WhereNet Corp. All other brands, products, or service names are or may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

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