• Miller commissions 75th anniversary chopper from Orange County Choppers
• Customer appreciation activities announced on MillerWelds.com/75years

APPLETON, Wis., December 12, 2003— Miller Electric Mfg. Co. today started its 75th anniversary celebration with the delivery of a motorcycle it commissioned Orange County Choppers (OCC) to design and build.

Miller is a leading worldwide manufacturer of arc welding equipment and related systems. It employs approximately 1,200 people in Wisconsin. The company started in 1929 in the basement of Niels Miller’s Appleton home when he recognized the need for a small, affordable arc welder that would operate on the type of electricity available in rural Wisconsin.

To officially turn over the Miller chopper, OCC owner Paul Teutul Sr. and chief designer and fabricator Paul Teutul Jr. visited Miller’s Appleton headquarters and signed autographs for company employees and their families. They also toured the manufacturing facility as part of filming for a cable TV show seen by millions of viewers each week. An episode airing in early February chronicles the building of the Miller chopper.

“Today’s events commemorate an important milestone for Miller, and they start a year-long celebration,” says Vickie Rhiner, manager, marketing, Miller Electric. “Beginning January 8, a special Web site—MillerWelds.com/75years—will go live with detailed information on the chopper, Miller’s history and customer appreciation events we promise will live up to our customers’ expectations.” She notes that Miller plans to update the site every four to six weeks and that the biggest opportunities will not be immediately announced.

American Made

The Miller Electric 75th anniversary chopper features an inspirational stars-and-stripes design. “This embodies the American spirit and freedom to ride. It also has special meaning to the craftsmen and women who build Miller products,” says Rhiner. Miller is the only major manufacturer that builds all of its welding power sources in the United States.

OCC’s affinity for Miller products began years ago, and today the chopper shop exclusively uses Miller brand power sources and welding helmets. In fact, like many people, Paul Jr. learned how to weld using a Millermatic® all-in-one MIG welder. Miller invented this style of machine in 1971. Due to its affordability, ease of use and arc performance, it has become the most popular type of welder for light fabrication, home/hobby and farm use.

With headquarters in Appleton, Wis., Miller Electric Mfg. Co. is a leading worldwide manufacturer of Miller and Hobart brand arc welding equipment and related systems for metalworking, construction, maintenance and other applications. Miller Electric Mfg. Co. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW), Glenview, Ill. ITW is a diversified multinational manufacturer of highly engineered components, assemblies and systems.