MAN Engines run more quietly thanks to a specially designed rocker cover, molded in TECHNYL® polyamide from Rhodia

The new Six-cylinder MAN engine features a cylinder head cover molded in glass fiber-reinforced and mineral-filled TECHNYL® polyamide from Rhodia Engineering Plastics. Freiburg, Germany, June 2nd, 2005 - The new straight-six cylinder engines from MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG are not only compact and comparatively light, but they also run more quietly thanks to the very rigid one-meter-long rocker cover molded of mineral-filled and glass fiber-reinforced TECHNYL® A218 MT15 V25 polyamide from Rhodia Engineering Plastics.

Innovation in New Components Technologies is Focus of GE’s Participation in European Automotive Components Expo 2005

Sejin Running Board Blow Molded from GE’s Xenoy* X4000 BM Resin

Sejin has selected GE’s high-performance Xenoy X4000BM resin for blow-molded running boards on select vehicles. The resin offers superior hang strength and processing windows vs. competitive products, along with excellent regrind stability/usage.  Xenoy X4000BM resin was developed to help global OEMs such as Sejin meet such critical design specifications as weight reduction, excellent impact and toughness, and cost savings via parts consolidation vs. conventional steel-beam systems utilized in many vehicles today. The new GE grade can also be used to mold recreational vehicle components. 

* Xenoy is a trademark of General Electric Company.
 STUTTGART, GERMANY — May 31, 2005 — “Innovation in New Components Technologies” is the theme of the GE Advanced Materials exhibit (Hall 7, Stand 7057) at the European Automotive Components Expo (EACE) at the Messe Stuttgart here, from May 31 - June 2, 2005. GE will take part in the expo with a broad spectrum of raw materials, innovations, and solutions.

GE’s New LNP* Lubricomp* PCAL Specialty Compounds Feature Internal Lubrication for Better Wear Resistance & Less Noise

Sony Ericsson K750i Mobile Phone Using GE’s LNP* Lubricomp* PCAL 4010 resin

Sony Ericsson has selected GE’s LNP* Lubricomp* PCAL 4010 resin (in three different colours) for the sliding lense cover and battery cover on its K750i and W800 mobile phones. The GE material is one product in a new series of internally lubricated polycarbonate/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (PC/ABS) compounds that deliver improved wear resistance and reduced noise levels during part operation vs. unmodified PC/ABS blends. In addition, the new LNP Lubricomp PCAL compounds provide good processability, excellent impact performance, and colourability, including GE’s Visualfx* special effects colours. BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — May 18, 2005 — Repetitive movement of a plastic part – say, the battery or lens cover on your mobile phone – can wear down the material and lead to a malfunction. Even worse, it can cause an annoying squeaking noise. To help address the twin issues of premature wear and noise from friction, while providing enhanced performance characteristics, GE Advanced Materials has introduced a new series of internally lubricated polycarbonate/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (PC/ABS) compounds. LNP* Lubricomp* PCAL 4010 and PCAL 4020S compounds deliver improved wear resistance and reduced noise levels during part operation vs. unmodified PC/ABS blends. In addition, they provide good processability, excellent impact performance, and colourability, including GE’s Visualfx* special effects colours.

DSM ENGINEERING PLASTICS’ COLLABORATIVE APPROACH AND MATERIALS HELP AUTOMOTIVE CUSTOMERS RESOLVE THE PERFORMANCE VS. COST DILEMMA

Airducts. Arnitel® allows thinner wall section designs than other materials and faster cycling reduces total part costs by as much as 30%. Better acoustic damping (by up to 10%) and easier mirror welding are further benefits. The products and collaborative customer service of DSM Engineering Plastics are changing the way automotive manufacturers and suppliers use engineering materials. Product development at DSM is delivering materials that improve performance and reduce weight. Few industries work as comprehensively as automotive to control total system costs, a key strength in a large number of DSM developments. Finally, the number of DSM Engineering Plastics applications continues to grow thanks to the company’s willingness to work collaboratively, an approach which often leads to improved performance at lower cost.

POLIMOON SPECIFIES AKULON® ULTRAFLOW® PA6 FOR VOLVO ENGINE COVER

Akulon® UltraFlow® offers the ability to mould parts of large area and thin cross-section. In addition, Akulon® provides faster processing and better performance and aesthetics than such competing materials as polypropylene and conventional PA 6 or PA 66 formulations. Polimoon Norway, a major European supplier of plastic products and parts, working in collaboration with DSM Engineering Plastics, has chosen DSM’s Akulon® UltraFlow® polyamide 6 (PA6) for production of a new engine cover for the Volvo T6 2.9l V6 engine in the Volvo CX90 sports utility vehicle. The material, Akulon UltraFlow grade K-FGHM24 (10 percent glass and 20 percent mineral filled, heat-stabilised) was chosen for its ability to mould large-area, thin parts with shorter cycle times, better engineering performance and better aesthetics than such competing materials as polypropylene or PA66.

GE Invests in New Fluid Engineering Centre of Excellence to Research, Test & Develop Materials Solutions for Potable Water Industry

Noryl* GFN1520 Resin Undergoes ISO 9080 Water Bath Test

GE Advanced Materials’ European headquarters in Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands, has opened its new Fluid Engineering Centre of Excellence to help improve the provision of water resources around the world. To determine the advantages and applicability of GE’s materials for the water industry, the Fluid Engineering Centre is generating data regarding long-term performance of a variety of materials, including Noryl*resin, Ultem*resin, and LNP* Verton* and LNP Lubricomp* compounds in fluid-handling components. The evaluation process includes testing of tensile strength retention, creep, and fatigue in water over time to determine how well these materials can withstand exposure to water absorption, water pressure, and heat in applications like filtration systems. Other testing includes resistance to chlorinated water and contaminated water (containing sand or soil). BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — May 18, 2005 — Developed nations take clean drinking water at the twist of a tap for granted, but in many areas of the world, potable water is scarce or non-existent. The critical demand for clean water – exacerbated by population expansion, environmental pollution, and deforestation, among other factors – is driving a new industry that is expected to spend more than $95 billion in capital outlays through 2015. To support this industry and help people around the world obtain a basic necessity, GE Advanced Materials has invested in a new Fluid Engineering Centre of Excellence here. The centre’s scientists and technologists are conducting research, development, and testing new materials solutions that can improve the provision of water resources around the world.

Wavin Future K1 for Clean, Safe, Cost-efficient and Easy to Install Sanitary and Heating Water Pipework

PPSU press fitting with fixed stainless steel bushing and window for fast installation. As a leading and innovative European supplier of plastic pipe systems Wavin has developed the Future K1 system for sanitary and heating installations to meet the growing demand for plastic fittings and pipes in sanitary engineering. The Wavin Future K1 system is suitable for a wide range of applications in sanitary and heating installations, including GRAS (generally recognised as safe) validated potable water pipes. The Wavin Future K1 system is the only plastic pipe system which is available throughout Europe, from Scandinavia to Western, Central and Eastern Europe and into the Mediterranean, and meets all existing standards and regulations in this application area.

Dureal™ and Texaco Netherlands joint-venture partners sign agreement for nation wide supply of AdBlue

Dureal™, a division of Univar NV, and the joint-venture partners of Texaco Netherlands signed an agreement for the nation wide supply of AdBlue on 26 May, 2005. With the agreement Dureal has secured the coverage with AdBlue filling units across the Netherlands. From left to right: Theo Wassing (Nijol BV), Peter Groen (Salland Olie Maatschappij BV), Annelies Osinga (Dureal), Jacques Voogt (Dureal), Johan Schikker (BOHA BV / Post BV), Gerrit Jan Bomhof (Dureal), Dirk Offringa (DHV BV), Patrick Lammers (Dureal) en Kris Schreurs (Schreurs BV).
 Rotterdam, 26 May, 2005 - Dureal™, a division of Univar NV - one of the world’s largest chemicals distributors - and the joint-venture partners of Texaco Netherlands have signed an agreement for the nation wide supply of AdBlue. The agreement covers petrol stations operated by the joint venture partners, as well as the supply to on-site service units at transport and bus companies. Through this agreement Dureal has secured the coverage of AdBlue filling units across the Netherlands. In addition the company is working hard to further expand its AdBlue supply network in other European countries.