AZDEL SUPERLITE® COMPOSITE REDUCES WEIGHT AND ENHANCES PERFORMANCE IN AUTOMOTIVE INTERIORS

Lear Coporation has chosen GE Plastics’ Azdel® SuperLite composite for a new automotive interior integration program, which will be featured on the 2004 Ford GT performance vehicle. With high demand for improved weight reduction in the automotive business, Azdel SuperLite composite can provide estimated 30 percent weight saving per vehicle than conventional injection molded substrates. BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — Feb. 2, 2004 — Already achieving successes in automotive interior programs, which include headliner, sunshade, and parcel shelf applications in the U.S., Australia, and China, AZDEL SUPERLITE® composite is now being trialed by automotive OEMs in Europe.

AZDEL SUPERLITE® COMPOSITE GIVES SIGNIFICANT COST AND WEIGHT SAVINGS IN LOW VOLUME AUTOMOTIVE BONNETS/HOODS

As the result of a joint development, GE Advanced Materials’ AZDEL SUPERLITE® composite will be used by BI Composites Plc, a major UK automotive molder, to replace the steel in the bonnet/hood of a high-powered sports vehicle to be launched by a leading international carmaker in early 2004. In high-speed, offset front-impact tests, the bonnets exhibited less damage than that sustained by similar steel panels tested under the same procedure. The bonnets’ adhesive bonding also remained intact throughout impact testing. BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — Feb. 2, 2004 — As the result of a joint development, GE Advanced Materials’ AZDEL SUPERLITE® composite will be used by BI Composites, a major UK automotive molder, to replace the steel in the bonnet/hood of a high-powered sports vehicle to be launched by a leading international carmaker in early 2004.

GE’S ADVANCE INTO ELECTRONICS IS FUELED FURTHER BY LAUNCH OF ILLUMINEX™ DIFFUSER FILMS FOR OPTICAL DISPLAYS

ILLUMINEX™ optical display films, made from GE Advanced Materials’ LEXAN® polycarbonate resin, are now available to meet growing worldwide demand for diffuser films in LCD applications ranging from television screens, personal digital assistants (PDAs), desktop computer monitors, and Note PCs to GPS navigation units, cell phones, and automobile LCDs to cameras, and portable DVDs. These new products feature excellent optical properties that are built into the film formulation and/or molded into the film surface to deliver unprecedented levels of cost-effective quality and performance.  BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — Feb. 2, 2004 — To help meet growing worldwide demand for diffuser films, GE Advanced Materials, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), introduced today a new global line of optical display films made from LEXAN® polycarbonate (PC) resin. Called LEXAN® ILLUMINEX™ diffuser films, the products feature excellent optical properties that are built into the film formulation and/or molded into the film surface to deliver unprecedented levels of cost-effective quality and performance. Potential target applications include television screens, personal digital assistants (PDAs), desktop computer monitors, Note PCs, GPS navigation units, cell phones, automobile LCDs, cameras, and portable DVDs.

Milliken Chemical Leading the Charge for Clear Packaging for DVDs

As clear packaging grows in popularity for DVDs and other digital media, Milliken Chemical is leading the charge by producing its market-leading clarifying agents, colorants and propriety packaging options. As clear packaging grows in popularity for DVDs and other digital media, Milliken Chemical is leading the charge by producing its market-leading clarifying agents, colorants and propriety packaging options.

ECMSA at LESI Paris

ECMSAThe European Chemical Marketing and Strategy Association (ECMSA) is running two industry-critical workshops at this year’s Licensing Executives Society International (LESI) meeting in Paris, which runs from 29 – 31 March 2004.

International Specialty Products acquires the business of Biochema Schwaben

ISPInternational Specialty Products Inc (ISP) has announced that, through its subsidiaries, it has acquired the business of Biochema Schwaben. Biochema is an established formulator of preservatives and biocides for industrial and personal care applications.

UV LIGHT POSES SERIOUS CHALLENGE FOR PET CONTAINERS

These three bottles show the impact of UV light on beverage color. From left to right, the first bottle had no exposure to UV light, the second bottle had 390 protection and the third bottle had no UV protection at all. The challenge of preventing harmful impacts from UV light should not be ignored by makers of beverages, food and other consumer products packaged in PET according to research studies by Milliken & Company, a leading provider of high-performance plastic additives.

Eastman’s “Glass Polymer™” Helps Parlux Make Waves

Eastman’s “Glass Polymer™” Helps Parlux Make Waves. Parlux’s new Ocean Pacific cologne package is more than provocative. It’s an experience complete with simulated waves, thanks to Eastman Chemical Company’s Glass Polymer™ copolyester. A textured inner glass vessel, which holds the fragrance, is encapsulated within an outer Glass Polymer sleeve. An azure blue liquid flows between the inner vessel and outer Glass Polymer sleeve to create the wave effect.