
26 Mar 2003
LNP Engineering Plastics Europe Raises Value-To-Customer Through Expansion, Product Initiatives And Technology Advances
LNP Engineering Plastics, one of the world’s largest custom compounders of engineering thermoplastics, has announced market and plant expansion plans, new product introductions and new application successes that are geared to raising the level of value delivered to its customers.
Bernard J. Lanham, President and Managing Director for Europe, presented these developments, together with an overview of the company’s strategy adopted since its acquisition by GE Plastics, during a press conference held March 19, 2003 at LNP Europe’s headquarters in Raamsdonksveer, The Netherlands. In providing a context for its future direction, Lanham reported that over the course of the year since the company’s acquisition by GE Plastics, LNP had maximized the synergies existing between the two businesses.
“LNP has for over 50 years been a pioneer in the development of reinforced and modified thermoplastic compounds”, he said. “We are excited about the opportunity we see in harnessing the resin technology of the leading global producer of Engineering Thermoplastics to create a new LNP, one that offers greater value to customers than ever before.”
Lanham observed that LNP was already known for the speed and flexibility it offered customers, but now the company is combining speed with resin technology that will enable it to develop entirely new product platforms, based on state-of-the-art resins that are not usually available to a compounder. In addition LNP is utilizing GE’s Corporate Research and Development Centres in the USA and India, to do research into new fillers, reinforcements and additives and develop them for commercial use. LNP has formed an Advanced Technology Group, which will lead those efforts globally.
According to Lanham, LNP is intensifying its market development efforts and increasing technology and production capabilities worldwide.
In Europe, developments include the production expansion of Verton® composites at the Thornaby-on-Tees, UK plant by 20 %. Other steps in the programme included the opening of a new technical centre in Fosses, France in June 2002, and the integration of the existing GE Plastics specialty compounding plant in Pontirolo, Italy, resulting in a 30% increase in overall production capacity for LNP Europe. The Pontirolo plant will also enable LNP to better serve its burgeoning customer base in Italy.
Next to this plant integration, LNP decided to also combine it’s nylon product lines and integrate GEP’s nylon based compounds, formerly called Gelon®, with LNP’s range. This combination has broadened the portfolio further, with additional flame retardant technology, extremely high modulus products and special colour effects. LNP now offers a very extensive range of nylon compounds, called Starflam® for the flame retardant compounds, and Staramide® for the non-flame retardant nylon compounds. To serve global customers, LNP has also started production of the Starflam® range in Shanghai, China and Columbus, USA, in addition to production at the two European plants in France and Italy.
Otto de Bont, European Marketing Manager, outlined the aggressive growth plans for LNP Europe, which represents approximately 25 % of the company’s total sales. “We have a plan in place to double the business by 2005. We are increasing our commercial coverage by adding application development experts in Europe. In addition we are leveraging the GE Plastics sales and marketing team, totaling over 200 new colleagues, so they can offer a complete product portfolio, including the LNP product range, to their key accounts.”
De Bont continues: “Specific segments have been identified within the automotive, electrical, industrial and appliance sector as key targets in this drive for growth.
By providing customers innovative, quick and cost effective solutions, we will offer differentiation. At OEM’s and First Tier Suppliers for the Automotive Industry, the backing of GE(P) gives us credibility as a partner for large developments, which most of our competitors do not have.”
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Notes for editors
LNP Engineering Plastics Europe, a GE Plastics company, is headquartered in Raamsdonksveer, The Netherlands, from where, supported by manufacturing plants at Fosses, France, Thornaby-on-Tees, UK and Pontirolo, Italy, it serves the European market with custom compounded engineering thermoplastics.
Parent company LNP Engineering Plastics, which was acquired by GE Plastics in 2002, has its world headquarters at Exton, Pennsylvania, USA, and is a global leader in the custom compounding of engineering thermoplastics.
The company operates nine manufacturing plants located in USA, Mexico, Asia Pacific and South America, as well as Europe. LNP is known for innovative, value-added products and ultra-fast development of viable solutions for its customers. The LNP product line includes a wide range of specialty compounds for information technology, automotive, health care, industrial and consumer applications. Details of the company can be found at: www.LNP.com
GE Plastics is the world's leading producer of engineering thermoplastics, with major production facilities worldwide. GE Plastics materials, including LEXAN® polycarbonate resin, are used in a wide variety of applications such as CDs, automobile parts, computer housings, cookware, outdoor signage, cell phones, bullet resistant shielding and building materials. The company is also a global distributor of resins through GE Polymerland, and of sheet, film, rod and tube products through GE Polymershapes and GE Structured Products. The company's Web site is located at www.geplastics.com
Verton®, Starflam® and Staramide® are registered trademarks of LNP Engineering Plastics Europe BV.
Lexan® is a registered trademark of GE Plastics.
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