21 Mar 2003

Siemens’ High Performance Industrial Contactor Benefits From Verton® Composite Switch Lever

Its unique combination of mechanical properties led Siemens to select Verton® composite, from LNP Engineering Plastics, a GE Plastics company, for the switch lever of one of its high performance contactors used for switching and starting of motors and plants.

Siemens Automation and Drives, a leader in low voltage controls and distribution control components, conducted extensive tests on a range of material options before choosing Verton® RF-700-12 EM as offering the best property profile for the application.

Verton® RF-700-12 EM is a Nylon 6.6, 60% long glass fibre reinforced composite, engineered for easy moulding. It delivers a unique impact strength and torsional strength combination which is considered essential in the switch lever component.

According to Siemens A&D engineer, Gerhard Sonnleitner, responsible for undertaking the material evaluations: “The excellent fatigue strength of the Verton® RF-700-12 EM composite was a key factor in its selection. The lever is designed to handle high switching frequency and is under constant load in the contactor.”

“In fact, it remains under load throughout its working life in an operating temperature as high as 100°C. Moreover, the lever has to withstand strong impact forces with every switching cycle, therefore the material had to offer a high level of endurance.”

Currently Verton® composite switch levers, in three different geometries, are included in three sizes of Siemens contactors.

The Siemens Automation and Drives Group (A&D), Nuremberg/Erlangen, Germany, is the leading manufacturer in this field worldwide. Products supplied by A&D include standard products for the manufacturing and process industries and for the electrical installation industry as well as system solutions, for example for machine tools, and solutions for whole industries such as the automation of entire automobile factories or chemical plants. Supplementing this range of products and services, A&D also offers software for linking production and management (horizontal and vertical IT integration) and for optimizing production processes. A&D employs 51,200 people worldwide and in fiscal year 2002 (to September 30) earned a pre-tax profit of €723 million on sales of €8.6 billion and orders of €8.7 billion.

Reader enquiries

LNP Engineering Plastics
Plasticslaan 1
4600 AC Bergen op Zoom
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Banu Kukner
banu.kukner@gepex.ge.com

Tel: +31 164 29 16 05
Fax: +31 164 29 10 66
Netherlands

+31 164 29 16 05

banu.kukner@gepex.ge.com

www.LNP.com

Notes for editors

Headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., LNP Engineering Plastics, a GE Plastics company, is a global leader in the custom compounding of engineering thermoplastics. The company operates eleven manufacturing plants throughout the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Europe, Asia Pacific and South America.

In Europe, LNP Engineering Plastics is based in Raamsdonksveer, The Netherlands, from where it serves customers’ needs throughout the region supported by manufacturing plants at Fosses, France, Thornaby-on-Tees, UK, and Pontirolo, Italy.

LNP is known for innovative, value-added products and ultra-fast development of viable solutions for its customers. The LNP product portfolio includes a wide range of specialty compounds for information technology, automotive, health care, industrial and consumer applications. Details can be found at www.LNP.com.

GE Plastics is a leading producer of engineering thermoplastics with major production facilities worldwide. GE Plastics materials, including LEXAN® polycarbonate, are used in a wide variety of applications such as CDs and DVDs, automobile parts, computer housings, cookware, outdoor signage, cell phones, bullet- resistant shielding and building materials. Through its LNP Engineering Plastics business, the company is a worldwide leader in the custom compounding of engineering thermoplastics. GE Plastics is also a global distributor of sheet, film, rod and tube products through GE Polymershapes and GE Structured Products. In 2003 GE Plastics is celebrating 50 years of innovation and the 50th Anniversary of LEXAN polycarbonate, discovered in 1953 by GE chemist Dr. Daniel W. Fox. The company's website is located at www.geplastics.com, and to learn more about LEXAN visit www.gelexan.com

Verton® is a registered trademark of LNP Engineering Plastics Europe BV.

Lexan® is a registered trademark of GE Plastics.