Fenders Made with SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Noryl GTX* Resins Debut in China on Dongfeng Peugeot’s First Car for China

BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands – May 14, 2008 – Auto body panels molded from SABIC Innovative Plastics’ high-tech Noryl GTX* resins continue to augment their global market penetration as automakers from around the world increasingly seek the innovative, high-performance benefits the resins provide. For more than seven years, Peugeot has used Noryl GTX resins for fenders and other body panels in its French-made cars. Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobiles (DPCA) now uses Noryl GTX resin on the Dongfeng Peugeot 307 four-door sedan, its first model manufactured and sold exclusively in China, sporting front fenders made with Noryl GTX resin.

Conductive Noryl GTX resins for fenders and other body panels offer several major benefits, including weight reduction of up to 50 percent vs. steel, increased freedom and flexibility to design and mold complex parts, and the ability to be used in standard automotive body painting processes. The resins can be painted or powder-coated simultaneously alongside the body in white without the need for a primer step. Noryl GTX resins have been selected for use by more than 10 different OEMs around the world, and more than 12 million cars have been constructed with fenders or body panels molded from the material.

The Noryl GTX injection-molded parts for Dongfeng Peugeot’s 307 four-door sedan assembled in China is being produced in China by Dongfeng Visteon Automotive Trim Systems (DFV), a joint venture between Visteon, Yanfeng Visteon, and Dongfeng Group, for Dongfeng Peugeot Citroën Automobiles (DPCA). To support this effort, SABIC Innovative Plastics and Plastic Omnium, designer and manufacturer of Peugeot fenders in France, provided training and on-site technical assistance to DFV. Working side-by-side with DPCA and its suppliers, SABIC Innovative Plastics helped to make the new vehicle a success story in China.

“SABIC Innovative Plastics supported our team to make sure production of the Noryl GTX fenders went smoothly,” said Rémi André, general manager, Dongfeng Visteon Automotive Trim Systems. “The scope of their technical resources is notable in the industry. Working together with SABIC Innovative Plastics experts, we are able to offer our customer high quality in-line painting, an innovative process in China.”

SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Automotive General Manager of Greater China, Eric Herman, said, “Our long history of replacing traditional materials with our high performance plastic solutions, reflects our commitment to working side-by-side with our automotive customers as long-term partners to help them succeed. China is the latest region to leverage the benefits our high-performance materials provide, which is a major driver as we help our customers streamline the transfer of this technology from other countries to this fast-growing market. At the same time SABIC Innovative Plastics provides extensive training and technical resources to help expedite the successful production of thermoplastic parts, clearly illustrated by the new front fender on the Dongfeng Peugeot 307.”

Large Body Panels Lighten Up with Noryl GTX Resin

Using lightweight, versatile Noryl GTX resins for on-line paintable auto body panels instead of steel can improve fuel efficiency, to help cut both consumer expenses and greenhouse gas emissions. Further, these resins offer greater design freedom than metal, enabling carmakers to create bold and exciting shapes and configurations to attract consumer interest. Noryl GTX resins blend polyamide (PA) and modified polyphenylene ether (PPE) polymer technologies to combine the dimensional stability and heat resistance of PPE polymer with the chemical resistance and flow of PA. The result is a chemically resistant material with the excellent stiffness, impact resistance, and heat performance required for on-line painting.

Local Technical Services Team

In addition to specialized materials, SABIC Innovative Plastics has an experienced technical services team in China to support customers with a range of challenges, from application design, to tooling optimization, to processing and painting assistance.

For more information on SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Noryl GTX resins for auto body panels, please visit the company’s website at www.sabic-ip.com .

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