Maiden flight Airbus A380; DSM’s Stanyl® helps make it the quietest airplane ever built

Stanyl® 46HF4130, a 30-percent glass-fibre-reinforced compound, designed for highly demanding structural elements of aircraft jet engines as the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine. This morning 11.30am (CET), the Airbus A380 containing an aircraft engine component made from DSM’s Stanyl performed its maiden flight at Toulouse-Blagnac international airport in Toulouse with a six-member test flight crew on-board.

Distrupol launches a powerful new polymer search tool

Logo PIC Distrupol, a member company of Univar and a leading European polymer distributor, technical service and solutions provider, has introduced a significant, web-based customer service enhancement, designed to reduce the time needed for material selection and help cut product development time.

Upgrades to GE Advanced Materials’ High-Purity Quartz Tubing Spark Higher Levels of Performance for Projector Lamps

GE’s New Quartz Lamp Tubing for Projectors

GE Advanced Materials, Quartz, has extended the performance limits of quartz lamp tubing for short arc, ultra-high-pressure mercury lamps. Three newly upgraded products from GE – standard, low-alkali, and synthetic tubing – represent a significant improvement in high-purity quartz tubing. The products offer projector lamp manufacturers improved optical uniformity, excellent dimensional control, and increased lamp life. BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — April 29, 2005 — GE Advanced Materials, Quartz, once again, has extended the performance limits of quartz lamp tubing for short arc, ultra-high-pressure mercury lamps. Three newly upgraded products from GE represent a significant improvement in high-purity quartz tubing, offering projector lamp manufacturers the potential for improved optical uniformity, excellent dimensional control, and increased lamp life.

Univar appoints Patrick Lammers Managing Director of its Dureal business

Univar appoints Patrick Lammers Managing Director of its Dureal business. Univar N.V., one of the world’s leading independent distributors of industrial chemicals and providers of related specialty services, has announced the appointment of Patrick Lammers as Managing Director of its Dureal division based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Univar to sell specialised oil products from Aarhus United UK throughout Europe

UnivarIn a joint announcement at In-Cosmetics 2005, Berlin, Univar and Aarhus United UK (AUUK) confirmed the signing of a contract under which Univar will provide exclusive sales and marketing services for AUUK products to personal care and pharmaceutical customers throughout Europe. The contract, which includes the newly launched PURE BASICS range, is the expansion of a successful 10-year working relationship between the two companies in the UK and Ireland.

International award for scientific papers in the field of engineering and high-performance plastics and composites

Quadrant is to confer for the first time an international award for outstanding academic achievement in the field of «Materials and processes related to engineering and high-performance plastics and composites». Graduates who have received a PhD or Master's degree between August 1, 2004, and July 31, 2005, are invited to enter. Prizes of EUR 15 000 (PhD level) and EUR 5 000 (Master's level) await the winners. Zurich, April 28, 2005 – As a leading global manufacturer of high-performance thermoplastic materials and composites in the form of semi-finished and finished products, Quadrant is to confer for the first time an international award for outstanding academic achievement. Graduates who have received a PhD or Master’s degree in the field of «Materials and processes related to engineering and high-performance plastics and composites» between August 1, 2004, and July 31, 2005, are invited to enter. The «Quadrant Award 2005» will be conferred for two scientific papers, with prizes of EUR 15 000 (PhD level) and EUR 5 000 (Master's level).

GE Advanced Materials, Automotive Revs Up Its Instrument Panel Program Featuring Two New Best-in-Class Resins

A leader in providing technically advanced material solutions to automotive customers across the globe, GE Advanced Materials, Automotive has introduced a reinvigorated Instrument Panel (IP) program, featuring several new high-performance polycarbonate/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (PC/ABS) and polycarbonate grades, as well as an expanded range of world-class technical resources and support. GE recently shifted its IP program into high gear with the launch of a new series of Xtreme Cycoloy* PC/ABS resin blends, representing the latest materials breakthrough in GE’s continuing development of its Cycoloy resin family.  Additional power to the IP program comes from the company’s introduction of Lexan* EXL 1414H resin, a new polycarbonate-siloxane (PC-Si) copolymer grade that offers automotive designers and OEMs new synergies between integrated airbag and IP design. 

GE’s Reinvigorated Instrument Panel (IP) Program BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — April 28, 2005 — Demonstrating another example of its commitment to provide technically advanced material solutions to automotive customers across the globe, GE Advanced Materials, Automotive has introduced a reinvigorated Instrument Panel (IP) program, featuring several new high-performance acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and polycarbonate (PC) grades, as well as an expanded range of world-class technical resources and support.

GE’s New AS4700* Hardcoat System Delivers Durable Protection, High Gloss to Black Polycarbonate Automotive Exterior Parts

High-Gloss Sun Roof

With the launch of its silicone-based AS4700* hardcoat and SHP470* basecoat grades, GE Advanced Materials is helping automotive designers and customers to deliver an added degree of protection for the appliqués, mirror shells, sunroofs, vent grills, and black polycarbonate (PC) exterior trim sported by many of today's cars. These parts have been traditionally susceptible to fading and cracking after extended exposure to harsh in-use environments. Combined, GE’s AS4700 hardcoat and SHP470 primer can now be used to create a protective surface with a durable, high-gloss finish, potentially extending the life of these components. BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — April 26, 2005 — Automotive customers who choose to differentiate their product offerings with plastic designs versus metal should not have to sacrifice durable aesthetics and performance. Now, with help from an outstanding new silicone-based weatherable hardcoat system from GE Advanced Materials, they may not have to.