Bodycote Heat Treatments Ltd - New Coventry Plant

Bodycote International PLC
10 March 2000


For further information, please contact:

John Chesworth, Managing Director
David Landless, Finance Director
Bodycote International plc                   Tel: [phone]

Edward Bridges/Scott Fulton
Financial Dynamics                           Tel: [phone]

                                       
                         BODYCOTE HEAT TREATMENTS LTD
                                       
                      NEW BODYCOTE PLANT AT AGCO COVENTRY

AGCO Ltd. (Formerly Massey-Ferguson Ltd.) and Bodycote Heat Treatments Ltd.
are pleased to announce that they have entered into a long- term strategic
agreement for the supply of heat treatment and related services, to support
AGCO's tractor plant at Coventry.  A new, latest technology, automated heat
treatment facility, will be established, utilising the concepts embodied in
the successful fully computerised heat treatment centres operated in the UK by
Bodycote at Derby, Birmingham and Macclesfield.  The new 'Factory Gates'
facility of Bodycote Heat Treatments Ltd, which is being established within
the AGCO site at Banner Lane, Coventry, will be in production by early 2001
and will provide initial capacity for annual heat treatment sales of
£2Million.

This is another example of a strategic outsourcing decision, which rests upon
the ability of Bodycote to address world engineering demands for highly
efficient production in the metallurgical services area.  As with the 'Factory
Gates' facility established last year to support Rolls-Royce at Derby, the
Coventry plant will allow AGCO to concentrate resources on their core business
and provides optimum logistical and inventory benefits.

Mr John Lee, Manufacturing Director of AGCO said ' The agreement with Bodycote
gives us a World Class heat treatment facility with the technological support
required, here on site at Banner Lane.  Bodycote have an international
reputation in metal technology services, with a very impressive list of multi-
national clients.  This project will further endorse our drive to be the top
quality, cost effective producer of tractors'