GE ADVANCED MATERIALS LAUNCHES ULTEM® GF ATX RESIN FAMILY AS AN ECONOMIC ALTERNATIVE TO GLASS FILLED PEI

GE PlasticsBERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — GE Advanced Materials, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), has announced the extension of its ATX series of unfilled polyetherimide/polyestercarbonate ULTEM® resin blends. The series now includes glass-filled offerings that may provide a cost-competitive alternative to glass-filled PEI and high performance semi-crystalline materials. This resin family has design applicability for a broad range of electronics, telecommunications, and automotive components that require high flow and impact performance combined with the potential for substantially lower cost than glass-filled PEI.

XYLEX™ RESIN FROM GE ADVANCED MATERIALS FINDING INCREASED USE IN POOL AND SPA FILTERS, LIGHTING

XYLEX™ X8210 and X8300 resins, two new polycarbonate/polyester alloys from GE Advanced Materials, are finding increased use in a range of important pool and spa applications, such as this pool cleaner from Zodiac Pool Care, Inc. of Pompano Beach, Fla. The resins are proving to be a great option for cleaner housings, light lenses, spa remote controls, pump covers, designer caps, filter parts, and control panels due to the properties they offer. These include excellent transparency, impact strength, weathering performance, and resistance to pool and spa chemicals, as well as superb gloss retention and UV resistance. Both the resin grades are commercially available worldwide. BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — GE Advanced Materials, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), is seeing increased validation and use of its XYLEX™ X8210 and X8300 polycarbonate/polyester alloys for a variety of pool and spa applications. These resin grades are proving to be a great option for pool and spa accessories due to the materials’ transparency, good impact strength, weathering performance, and resistance to chemicals like Baquacil® and BaquaSpa® water conditioners, bromine, and chlorine. Both the XYLEX X8210 and X8300 resins are commercially available worldwide.

Borealis continues to improve its financial performance in first quarter 2004

BorealisFollowing a positive fourth quarter 2003 result, Borealis continued to improve in the first quarter of 2004, reporting an operating profit of EUR 56 million. This compared favourably to last year’s first quarter operating loss of EUR 12 million, which had been adversely impacted by a EUR 17 million restructuring charge. Net profit after tax grew to EUR 38 million.

GREAT LAKES INCREASES PRICES OF ALL BROMINE AND PHOSPHORUS SPECIALTY CHEMICALS

Great LakesINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA—Great Lakes Chemical Corporation (NYSE:GLK) today announced it will increase prices worldwide by up to 20 percent for all bromine and phosphorus based specialty chemicals within its Polymer Additives division, with the exception of phosphite antioxidants, effective for shipments May 24, 2004, or as contracts allow. These price increases are in addition to all other increases previously announced.

Paul Symmons Assumes Key Strategic Operations Role for Univar Europe

Paul Symmons assumes key strategic operations role for Univar Europe Paul Symmons has been appointed European Operations Director for Univar Europe as Univar strengthens its approach to pan European business opportunities and efficiency gains. Paul brings cross sector experience to Univar's European business processes and supply chain management techniques. He has spent 4 years managing the UK Chemicals business for Univar including a supply chain redesign and the successful migration of the former UK Ellis and Everard business into Univar Ltd, creating an enlarged business with the strongest specialty and industrial chemicals offering in the market.

AGRIPLAST MEETS LARGE PRODUCTION CHALLENGES WITH ECO-BROM® MULTI-LAYER FILMS CO-EXTRUDED WITH DSM AKULON® XP

AGRIPLAST MEETS LARGE PRODUCTION CHALLENGES WITH ECO-BROM® MULTI-LAYER FILMS CO-EXTRUDED WITH DSM AKULON XP
 AGRIPLAST (Vittoria, Italy) turned to DSM Engineering Plastics for a solution to a multi-faceted challenge. AGRIPLAST needed an agricultural plastic film that was strong enough to resist puncture by stones and stubble, wide enough for the most intensive mechanized farming, and impermeable to methyl bromide or alternate soil sterilization and fumigation gases.

NEW GE ADVANCED MATERIALS RESIN FOR RETORT PACKAGING TRAYS ENABLES OEMS TO INCREASE RACK/SURGE CAPACITY; REDUCE SYSTEMS COSTS, TRAY BREAKAGE

A new thermoplastic alloy, designed for use in large retort packaging sterilization trays, offers OEMs the ability to increase rack/surge capacity for higher output, double service life, and lower systems costs, helping to improve productivity for food processors. NORYL PPX® 615 resin – an alloy of polyphenylene ether (PPE) and polypropylene (PP) – is targeted at the large trays used to handle retort pouches during sterilization and conveyance due to its special balance of broad chemical resistance, excellent thermal and hydrolytic stability, and stiffness with ductility. The new material also offers good surface appearance, a wide processing window, and fast cycle times, all of which can help molders improve their bottom line.  BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — A new thermoplastic alloy, designed for use in large retort packaging sterilization trays, offers OEMs the ability to increase rack/surge capacity for higher output, double service life, and lower systems costs, helping to improve productivity for food processors. Introduced today by
GE Advanced Materials, NORYL PPX® 615 resin – an alloy of polyphenylene ether (PPE) and polypropylene (PP) – is targeted at the large trays used to handle retort pouches during sterilization and conveyance due to its special balance of broad chemical resistance, excellent thermal and hydrolytic stability, and stiffness with ductility. The new material also offers good surface appearance, a wide processing window, and fast cycle times, all of which can help molders improve their bottom line.

DSO SELECTS MILLIKEN’S ELASTOGUARD® ANTIMICROBIAL RUBBER FOR USE IN REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR CRITICAL FOOD AND DAIRY MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT

Representatives from DSO Fluid Handling Co., Inc. and Milliken Chemical Speciality Elastomers Business seal the deal. From left to right, Michael Glaser, President, DSO Fluid Handling Co., Inc.; Scott McDowell, New Business Development Manager, Milliken & Company; Darrin Oppenheim, National Sales Manager, DSO Fluid Handling Co., Inc.; and Matt Weir, Technical Account Manager, Milliken & Company. IRVINGTON, N.J. – (Apr. 29, 2004) – DSO Fluid Handling Co., Inc. announced today that the company will now offer Elastoguard® rubber compounds from the Speciality Elastomers Business of Milliken Chemical, a division of Milliken & Company (Spartanburg, S.C.), to maximize antimicrobial protection in rubber parts for food processing equipment such as rubber rotors for pumps, rubber air valve stems, balls for ball check valves, sanitary pipeline gaskets, and O-rings. DSO is a manufacturer of high-volume replacement and maintenance parts for processing plants in the ready-to-eat food and dairy industries, as well as the cosmetic and pharmaceutical markets.