Bethlehem Steel Corporation
For Immediate Release

BETHLEHEM, Pa., February 13, 2001 -- The analytical laboratories of Bethlehem Steel Corporation located at the corporation's Homer Research Laboratories here have become the first Reference Materials Provider in the world to achieve ISO Guide 34 accreditation by the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA).

The laboratories, part of Bethlehem's Technology and Research department, have met the ISO Guide 34 standard that signifies the highest degree of standardization for reference materials for carbon and low alloy steels, zinc alloys and coated products. Reference materials are samples of the "flawless" forms of various materials, against which all materials in that class are measured.

Additionally, Bethlehem's analytical laboratories have become one of the first analytical chemistry laboratories to be accredited to the ISO 17025 standard by A2LA. The analytical laboratories provide services to Bethlehem Steel's business units pertaining to precise and accurate measurement of the chemical composition of materials, including steel products produced by Bethlehem as well as purchased materials, such as zinc and tin, used by Bethlehem to produce finished products. In addition, the data generated by the analytical laboratories are used extensively with customers, particularly North American automakers, to document chemical content, which affects the mechanical properties of Bethlehem products.

"Bethlehem Steel is known worldwide for its technological excellence. These achievements by our analytical laboratories are indicative of Bethlehem's ability to meet the most demanding quality parameters, resulting in superior products for our customers," said Dr. Malcolm J. Roberts, vice president, technology and quality.

The services provided by the laboratories are based on highly sensitive instrumentation, which are calibrated, verified, and controlled using well-defined measurement systems. The pursuit of A2LA accreditation to ISO Guide 34 and ISO 17025 also meant that various internal quality documentation needed to be updated to ensure consistency with the new standards.

The achievement by Bethlehem of accreditation to the new ISO standards "is further demonstration of our commitment to providing our customers with technologically superior products," said Dr. Roberts. The laboratories first accreditation was in 1992. Accreditation to these two new standards culminated with on-site A2LA assessments in October 2000.

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