17 Mar 2004

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

AZDEL, INC. IS INVESTING IN THIRD AZDEL SUPERLITE® COMPOSITE PRODUCTION LINE AT GLOBAL SUPPLY FACILITY IN LYNCHBURG, VA

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 is a low-pressure, thermoformable composite of a polypropylene resin matrix and chopped-fiber reinforcement. Developed specifically for automotive interior applications, the material offers light weight, a high stiffness-to-weight ratio, good dimensional stability, and high impact resistance over a wide temperature range. This combination of properties enables engineers to design components for vehicle weight reduction without compromising part performance or aesthetics.

As well as achieving weight savings of up to 50 percent in some components,
AZDEL SUPERLITE composite also delivers production advantages. In headliners – the first application in which AZDEL SUPERLITE composite was used – this versatile sheet can be molded directly in one step together with surface textile and special functional layers, thereby eliminating the several production steps required with traditional materials. Because of the product’s high stiffness-to-weight ratio, headliners can be constructed with ultra-thin profiles, down to three millimeters thick, half the thickness of conventional systems.

“The combination of wide versatility and performance properties can make
AZDEL SUPERLITE composite an excellent material for pre-assembled modular headliners,” says Gordon King, commercial director, AZDEL, Inc., Europe. “It allows the entire system to be mounted to a vehicle as a single assembly. Its light weight and low-pressure formability, often using existing tooling, means that AZDEL SUPERLITE composite has the potential to reduce system costs by up to 20 percent.”

To meet growing OEM demand for AZDEL SUPERLITE composite, AZDEL, Inc. is expanding its U.S.-based global supply facility in Lynchburg, Va. The introduction of a third AZDEL SUPERLITE composite line will add 7,000 tons to the company’s current annual capacity, totaling more than 25,000 tons when it comes on-stream this quarter.

According to James Forden, president, AZDEL, Inc., “This investment reflects the strong interest in AZDEL SUPERLITE composite by the automotive industry and the global translatability of the application programs it’s supporting. This step-increase in capacity will help further ensure product supply, as well as confirm our ongoing commitment to serve this sector.”

With its low-weight advantages, ultra-thin profile, and high stiffness-to-weight ratio,
AZDEL SUPERLITE composite can be formed with varying thickness and stiffness. Moreover, it allows manufacturers to use slightly modified existing tooling, helping to prevent creasing during the installation process. Furthermore, with better moisture resistance and lower emissions than traditional materials, AZDEL SUPERLITE composite can be an ideal candidate for interior applications.

The composite was recently chosen by Lear Corp. for the automotive interior integration program for the Ford GT performance vehicle. AZDEL SUPERLITE composite was specified for the headliner, bulkhead cover, door panels, pillar trims, center console, and instrument panel. The material met all key criteria and demonstrated its cost efficiency in high-end, low-volume models. It also helped save an estimated 30 percent more weight per vehicle than conventional injection-molded substrates. Currently in limited production, the Ford GT performance vehicle is scheduled to go into regular production in spring 2004.

In Europe, modular headliners, rear parcel shelves, door trim panels, underbody shields, and instrument panels made from AZDEL SUPERLITE composite are currently under development in cooperation with tier 1 automotive suppliers. These include a novel instrument panel concept featuring a new NIS seamless airbag system that exploits the high integration opportunities offered

Reader enquiries

GE Plastics
Plasticslaan 1
4600 AC Bergen op Zoom
Netherlands

Helen Vandebovenkamp
helen.vandebovenkamp@ge.com

Tel: +31 164 29 20 97
Fax: +31 164 29 10 66
Netherlands

+31 164 29 20 97

helen.vandebovenkamp@ge.com

www.geplastics.com

Notes for editors

GE Advanced Materials

GE Advanced Materials is a world leader in providing materials solutions through engineering thermoplastics, silicon-based products and technology platforms, and fused quartz and ceramics. Headquartered in Pittsfield, Mass., GE Advanced Materials is the combined entity of GE’s former Plastics, Silicones, and Quartz businesses. Its offerings include:

• Silanes, specialty silicones, urethane additives, adhesives, sealants, caulks, resins, and elastomers for a variety of vertical markets such as personal care, automotive, tire and rubber, construction, healthcare, electronics, household and institutional, agriculture, textiles, appliances, bedding and furnishings, and foam control, as well as the consumer “do-it-yourself” market (www.gesilicones.com);

• Engineering thermoplastics resins serving customers in a variety of industries including aerospace, appliances, automotive, building and construction, data storage and optical media, medical, electrical and electronics devices, telecommunications, computers and peripheral devices, outdoor vehicles and devices, and packaging (www.geplastics.com);

• High-purity quartz and advanced ceramic materials for the semiconductor, telecommunications, lighting, electronics, personal care, and water purification industries. GE Advanced Materials is a leading supplier of quartz materials to the semiconductor industry (www.gequartz.com).

AZDEL SUPERLITE composite is produced and distributed by AZDEL, Inc., a joint venture of GE Advanced Materials and PPG Industries. The AZDEL business was established in 1972 by PPG Industries, and a 50/50 joint venture was set up with GE in 1986. AZDEL SUPERLITE composite customers are provided with support in design, testing, molding, and prototyping to achieve excellent performance and weight reduction in automotive applications (www.azdel.com).

SUPERLITE is a registered trademark of AZDEL, Inc., a joint venture of General Electric Company and PPG Industries.

Related images

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.