3 Sep 2008
SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Color Innovation Center Helps Legrand Electric Deliver Tomorrow’s Colors Today
A Discussion with Mr. Denys Toulemonde about the Importance of Innovative Color and Texture in Electrical Fixtures
BERGEN OP ZOOM, Netherlands — September 3, 2008 — SABIC Innovative Plastics works with Legrand Electrical, a French manufacturer of wiring accessories, cable management systems, wall switches and lighting, to help the company design innovative and stylish products for residential and commercial use. Mr. Denys Toulemonde from Legrand's Design Department in Limoges discusses the benefits of SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Color Innovation Center services, and their new Expression 2009 Trend and Textures program (CIC Expression 2009 Program Video), which was introduced in April 2008, in developing Legrand’s newest products.
Q. What is your role at Legrand?
A. I’m the senior designer responsible for international projects, working on a range of new products.
Q. Why are aesthetics so important to Legrand’s business?
A. We differentiate ourselves by acting as trendsetters and bringing the latest looks to an industry that is essentially conservative. New aesthetic possibilities, including color and texture, help set Legrand products apart from traditional designs, and can build brand awareness among customers.
Q. What are you aiming for through the use of color, texture and effects?
A. We are trying to evoke positive emotions and create a mood that will encourage the customer to favor our products over others. Color and effects can create excitement and drama or soothe and calm the spirit. Another goal of using aesthetics is to be in sync with the latest style trends. Every year, new colors and effects become stylish, and we want to keep our designs aligned with the latest market trends.
Q. How does the SABIC Innovative Plastics Expression Trend and Textures program support your design efforts?
A. This proactive initiative helps customers like us consider new possibilities for design.
SABIC Innovative Plastics shows us samples of thermoplastic materials that incorporate the newest trends for the coming year so we can be ready.
I always see people from SABIC Innovative Plastics at the same industry conferences I attend, and it gives me great confidence that they’re up to date on all the current aesthetic trends in our industry.
Q. Can you provide some examples of how you’re using the Expression 2009 palette?
A. We’re really excited about the fresh greens and whites in the 2009 collection. We will compare these to the trends we are working on and consider them for future product ranges. It’s good to know that we are both thinking along the same lines.
Q. What types of services and support does SABIC Innovative Plastics provide to Legrand?
I visit the Color Innovation Center several times a year to brainstorm about new colors and trends as well as to work on new product designs. The company has broad expertise. Not only do we work with the Color Innovation team, but also with application development specialists, commercial sales reps and the color technology team to find the best solutions for each application. Further, SABIC Innovative Plastics is a global organization that serves our global company – we have access to resources around the world for design, technology and materials.
Q. And what other benefits do thermoplastics bring to your applications?
A. Thermoplastics from SABIC Innovative Plastics offer much greater design freedom than traditional materials such as glass, thermoset resins and porcelain. They have a wide range of choices to meet the specific performance requirements of our applications.
Q. From your perspective, what are the most important attributes of a material supplier?
A. We are looking for practical solutions to our requirements, but more than that, we want our suppliers to come to us with new ideas on a regular basis. It’s always a great moment in my day when I receive new color samples from SABIC Innovative Plastics.
Other important factors are proactive, continuous follow-up from the beginning of a project till the end, and the resources to help us in every step of development. Finally, as I mentioned, global reach is vital to Legrand because of our worldwide scope. For example,
SABIC Innovative Plastics has three Color Innovation Centers, so we can use the one that is closest.
About Expression 2009 Trends and Textures Program
The Expression 2009 palette (CIC Expression 2009 Program Video) aims to help customers tap into the power of aesthetics to evoke emotions, achieve differentiation, and create instant brand recognition. Expression 2009 features four trends collections which include Textures, Greens, Whites and Something Else. These are available in a range of colors and Visualfx* special effects resins. Textures are a new dimension within the Expression 2009 collection. Six intriguing textures, such as the optical art energy of “who stole my glasses” and the organic appeal of “squashed bamboo,” add depth and interest without the need for paint. Combined with a color or special effect from SABIC Innovative Plastics’ huge array of Visualfx resins, these textures can provide a unique look and feel while reducing system costs.
About Legrand
Legrand produces complete solutions for every building with more than 100 ranges of wiring accessories. Their business includes management of electrical installations and smart buildings, distribution and power, structured wiring systems, cable management systems and safety systems for residential and commercial buildings. In 2007, Legrand employed 35,000 people worldwide and reported sales of 4.1 billion euro.
For additional information on SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Expression 2009 palette and Visualfx* resins please go to https://color.geplastics.com/staticcxp/user/en/SpecialEffects/EffectsHome/visualfxamericas.html
Reader enquiries
| Innovative Plastics | Polymers | |
| 1 Plastics Avenue | Europaboulevard 1 | |
| Pittsfield, Mass. | 6135 LD Sittard | |
| United States | Netherlands | |
| Tel: +1 413 448 7383 | Tel: +31 (0)46 722 2399 | |
| Email: jodi.kennedy@sabic-ip.com | Fax: +31 (0)10 264 4823 | |
| Web: www.sabic-ip.com | Email: rachel.kundra@sabic-europe.com | |
| Web: www.sabic.com |
Netherlands
Notes for editors
About SABIC Innovative Plastics
SABIC Innovative Plastics is a leading, global supplier of engineering thermoplastics with a 75-year history of breakthrough solutions that solve its customers’ most pressing challenges. Today, SABIC Innovative Plastics is a multi-billion-dollar company with operations in more than 25 countries and over 10,500 employees worldwide. The company continues to lead the plastics industry with customer collaboration and continued investments in new polymer technologies, global application development, process technologies, and environmentally responsible solutions that serve diverse markets such as automotive, electronics, building & construction, transportation, and healthcare. The company’s extensive product portfolio includes thermoplastic resins, coatings, specialty compounds, film, and sheet. SABIC Innovative Plastics (www.sabic-ip.com) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), one of the world’s top five petrochemicals manufacturers.
# # #
* Trademarks of SABIC Innovative Plastics IP BV.
Media Note: The proper name of the company is SABIC Innovative Plastics, and excludes any abbreviations or variations when referring to the company. As an acronym, SABIC should be all caps whenever it appears in print.
Related images
Editorial enquiries
Helen Vandebovenkamp
SABIC
Helen.vandebovenkamp@sabic-ip.com
Tessa Vroegop
Marketing Solutions NV