MACHINEFABRIEK AMERSFOORT CHOOSES SLINGS MADE WITH DYNEEMA®

URMOND (NL), April 23, 2007 – DSM Dyneema today announced that Machinefabriek Amersfoort, a worldwide specialist in machining, heavy milling and turning of large metal parts, has begun using lifting slings made with ultra strong Dyneema® High Performance PolyEthylene (HPPE) fiber. The exceptional strength-to-weight ratio of Dyneema® HPPE has enabled the company to replace multiple polyester slings with fewer, lighter weight slings from sling maker Technotex (member of the Unitex Group), simplifying part handling and reducing storage. Also, as compared to polyester, the new slings with Dyneema® provide reduced stretch that enables crane operators to precisely position very large and heavy parts on a machine tool.

“We wanted a better solution to traditional slings, which required stocking a wide range of sizes to accommodate different loads,” said Mr. van Amersfoort Jr. “Our new slings made with high-performance, lightweight Dyneema® fiber not only dramatically reduced the number of slings we need to store and manage, but also provide excellent stability during precision lifting operations. An added benefit is the fact that these new slings will not damage costly parts.”

Unitex slings made with Dyneema® fiber are less than half the weight and about 70 percent of the diameter of a polyester sling of equivalent strength. They are dramatically lighter than traditional wire rope slings and chain slings. Also, compared to these, smooth and soft slings with Dyneema® fiber will not damage the load. In addition, the durability of Dyneema® polyethylene promises a long lifespan for the slings.

Jorn Boesten, Market Segment Manager Industrial at DSM Dyneema, said, “Round slings are an excellent example of our focus on developing innovative products that solve longstanding market challenges. These slings made with Dyneema® fiber were recently introduced into the European market together with the Unitex Group, and we’ve been pleased to see how quickly customers have adopted them for their advantages of very low weight, easy handling, precise lifting and durability. In North America slings with Dyneema® are being used for precision maintenance work, for instance in power plants. Slings with our ultra-strong, durable material will continue to prove their value in a variety of lifting scenarios.”

About DSM Dyneema

DSM Dyneema is the inventor and manufacturer of Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™. Dyneema® is an ultra strong polyethylene fiber that offers maximum strength combined with minimum weight. It is up to 15 times stronger than quality steel and up to 40% stronger than aramid fibers, both on weight for weight basis. Dyneema® floats on water and is extremely durable and resistant to moisture, UV light and chemicals. The applications are therefore more or less unlimited. Dyneema® is an important component in ropes, cables and nets in the fishing, shipping and offshore industries. Dyneema® is also used in safety gloves for the metalworking industry and in fine yarns for applications in sporting goods and the medical sector. In addition, Dyneema® is also used in bullet resistant armor and clothing for police and military personnel.

Dyneema® is produced in Heerlen (The Netherlands) and in Greenville, North Carolina (U.S.A.). DSM Dyneema is also a partner in a high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) manufacturing joint venture in Japan. Further information on DSM Dyneema is available at www.dyneema.com and www.liftingwithconfidence.com

About DSM

DSM is active worldwide in nutritional and pharma ingredients, performance materials and industrial chemicals. The company develops, produces and sells innovative products and services that help improve the quality of life. DSM’s products are used in a wide range of end-markets and applications, such as human and animal nutrition and health, personal care, pharmaceuticals, automotive and transport, coatings and paint, housing and electrics & electronics (E&E). DSM’s strategy, named Vision 2010 – Building on Strengths, focuses on accelerating profitable and innovative growth of the company’s specialties portfolio. The key drivers of this strategy are market-driven growth and innovation plus an increased presence in emerging economies. The group has annual sales of over €8 billion and employs some 22,000 people worldwide. DSM ranks among the global leaders in many of its fields. The company is headquartered in the Netherlands, with locations in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas. More information about DSM can be found at www.dsm.com.

Dyneema®, Dyneema Purity® and Dyneema®, the world's strongest fiber™ are trademark(s) (applications) owned by Royal DSM N.V.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About Machinefabriek Amersfoort

Machinefabriek Amersfoort b.v. has a proud tradition of innovative cost effective production facilities. For more than half a century the Dutch Machinefabriek Amersfoort has been a household name in machining, specialized in heavy milling and turning operations. Machinefabriek Amersfoort serves all kind of industries, such as Oil & Gas, Shipbuilding, Energy, Offshore and Defence for both machining only or for complete supplies including forgings or castings.

About Unitex Group

Unitex Group is the international Trading Name for a group of manufacturing companies which is divided into two divisions: IW - Industrial Webbing and FP - Finished Products, which manufactures products such as round slings, web slings, lashings and products for height safety. Unitex is a worldwide operation with manufacturing facilities strategically situated in Asia, Europe and the United States of America. The Holding company is located in Scherpenzeel, the Netherlands.