GE Advanced Materials

European Media Tour New Product Introductions

2 - 13 Feb 2004

www.geplastics.com

 

GE ADVANCED MATERIALS REDEFINES WEATHERABLE RESIN PERFORMANCE WITH NEW OPAQUE, MOLDED-IN-COLOR PRODUCTS FOR INJECTION MOLDING

GE Advanced Materials has expanded its LEXAN® SLX weatherable resin product line with two new opaque resin grades – LEXAN SLX EXRL0124 and LEXAN SLX EXRL0125 resins – that have been designed for injection molding. The new products were developed to address environmental issues and the costs associated with painting plastic parts in applications that require long-term retention of color and gloss in demanding outdoor use. One of the first commercial uses of LEXAN SLX resin is for the housing of a new wireless infrastructure product from NexGen City. The resin was selected for this application – a homeland security device that supports first-responder (fire, EMT, and police) emergency personnel – for its chemical resistance, weatherability, light weight, design flexibility, thermal stability, impact resistance, and processability. BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — GE Advanced Materials, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), today expanded its LEXAN® SLX weatherable copolymer resin line with two new opaque grades specifically designed for injection molding. The new materials – LEXAN SLX EXRL0124 and LEXAN SLX EXRL0125 resins – were developed to address environmental issues and costs associated with painting plastic parts in applications that require long-term retention of color and gloss in demanding outdoor use.

GE ADVANCED MATERIALS LAUNCHES ULTEM® GF ATX RESIN FAMILY AS AN ECONOMIC ALTERNATIVE TO GLASS FILLED PEI

GE PlasticsBERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — GE Advanced Materials, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), has announced the extension of its ATX series of unfilled polyetherimide/polyestercarbonate ULTEM® resin blends. The series now includes glass-filled offerings that may provide a cost-competitive alternative to glass-filled PEI and high performance semi-crystalline materials. This resin family has design applicability for a broad range of electronics, telecommunications, and automotive components that require high flow and impact performance combined with the potential for substantially lower cost than glass-filled PEI.

XYLEX™ RESIN FROM GE ADVANCED MATERIALS FINDING INCREASED USE IN POOL AND SPA FILTERS, LIGHTING

XYLEX™ X8210 and X8300 resins, two new polycarbonate/polyester alloys from GE Advanced Materials, are finding increased use in a range of important pool and spa applications, such as this pool cleaner from Zodiac Pool Care, Inc. of Pompano Beach, Fla. The resins are proving to be a great option for cleaner housings, light lenses, spa remote controls, pump covers, designer caps, filter parts, and control panels due to the properties they offer. These include excellent transparency, impact strength, weathering performance, and resistance to pool and spa chemicals, as well as superb gloss retention and UV resistance. Both the resin grades are commercially available worldwide. BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — GE Advanced Materials, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), is seeing increased validation and use of its XYLEX™ X8210 and X8300 polycarbonate/polyester alloys for a variety of pool and spa applications. These resin grades are proving to be a great option for pool and spa accessories due to the materials’ transparency, good impact strength, weathering performance, and resistance to chemicals like Baquacil® and BaquaSpa® water conditioners, bromine, and chlorine. Both the XYLEX X8210 and X8300 resins are commercially available worldwide.

NEW GE ADVANCED MATERIALS RESIN FOR RETORT PACKAGING TRAYS ENABLES OEMS TO INCREASE RACK/SURGE CAPACITY; REDUCE SYSTEMS COSTS, TRAY BREAKAGE

A new thermoplastic alloy, designed for use in large retort packaging sterilization trays, offers OEMs the ability to increase rack/surge capacity for higher output, double service life, and lower systems costs, helping to improve productivity for food processors. NORYL PPX® 615 resin – an alloy of polyphenylene ether (PPE) and polypropylene (PP) – is targeted at the large trays used to handle retort pouches during sterilization and conveyance due to its special balance of broad chemical resistance, excellent thermal and hydrolytic stability, and stiffness with ductility. The new material also offers good surface appearance, a wide processing window, and fast cycle times, all of which can help molders improve their bottom line.  BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — A new thermoplastic alloy, designed for use in large retort packaging sterilization trays, offers OEMs the ability to increase rack/surge capacity for higher output, double service life, and lower systems costs, helping to improve productivity for food processors. Introduced today by
GE Advanced Materials, NORYL PPX® 615 resin – an alloy of polyphenylene ether (PPE) and polypropylene (PP) – is targeted at the large trays used to handle retort pouches during sterilization and conveyance due to its special balance of broad chemical resistance, excellent thermal and hydrolytic stability, and stiffness with ductility. The new material also offers good surface appearance, a wide processing window, and fast cycle times, all of which can help molders improve their bottom line.

NEW CYCOLOY® CY8620 RESIN FROM GE ADVANCED MATERIALS BRINGS A HIGHER LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE TO AUTOMOTIVE INSTRUMENT PANELS

GE Advanced Materials has launched CYCOLOY® CY8620 PC/ABS high-impact amorphous resin. Developed specifically for automotive interior applications, CYCOLOY CY8620 resin has a particular fit in instrument panel components, bringing a new level of performance through key property improvements over earlier generation materials. CYCOLOY resin has proven itself to be one of the foremost materials in meeting automotive OEMs’ stringent specifications for instrument panel applications, and GE Advanced Materials has progressively fine-tuned the resin line to help ensure that these materials continue to deliver cost-effective solutions to the industry. BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands – GE Advanced Materials, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), has launched CYCOLOY® CY8620 resin, adding a new and important grade to its family of CYCOLOY PC/ABS high-impact amorphous resins. Developed specifically for automotive interior applications, CYCOLOY CY8620 resin has a particular fit in instrument panel components, bringing a new level of performance over earlier generation materials.

LNP DRIVES LEAD-FREE SOLDER PROCESSING FORWARD WITH NEW HIGH-HEAT, IR-SOLDERABLE FR CONNECTOR MATERIALS

GE PlasticsBERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — A range of new grades of high-heat connector materials introduced today by LNP Engineering Plastics have been specially designed to resist the thermal challenges of infrared (IR) reflow soldering, offer the shrinkage characteristics of widely used thermoplastic polyesters for easy drop-in replacement, and are formulated with a halogen-free, flame-retardant package that can be used in eco-label applications. These glass-reinforced grades – called THERMOCOMP® HT Solder composite and STARFLAM® composite – are positioned to replace lower-temperature materials used in lead-free solderable connector applications in the computer peripherals, telecommunications, and datacommunications industries.

GE ADVANCED MATERIALS DELIVERS NEXT STEP IN SOLUTIONS FOR AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING APPLICATIONS

GE PlasticsBERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — GE Advanced Materials, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), has introduced an array of new resin grades specifically designed to help bring higher performance benefits to automotive lighting applications.

GE ADVANCED MATERIALS TARGETS WORLDWIDE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY WITH FIRST-GENERATION PEI FILMS BASED ON X GEN™ RESIN TECHNOLOGY

GE Advanced Materials’ new ULTEM™ 1000B, ULTEM 5000B, and ULTEM EXSP0023 PEI films are characterized by their excellent temperature and electrical property performance. The new materials are the first in a family of new polyetherimide (PEI) films based on GE’s X GEN™ resin technology and are positioned to offer a cost-performance alternative to competitive polyimide (PI) films. They are excellent candidates for use in a range of consumer electronics applications where high-performance, economical, and durable materials are required. These include mobile phones, lap-top computers, pagers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and similar electronic devices. Other potential application areas include medical and automotive. BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — GE Advanced Materials, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), today introduced ULTEM™ 1000B, ULTEM 5000B, and ULTEM EXSP0023 films. This new family of products is based on the company’s X GEN™ resin technology, a recently launched resin portfolio that pushes high-end polymer performance to even greater levels. The polyetherimide (PEI) films are characterized by their excellent temperature and electrical property performance. The company has stated that the materials are the first in a line of new PEI films based on the X GEN resin technology.

GE ADVANCED MATERIALS BROADENS PORTFOLIO FOR ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY WITH NEW FLEXIBLE NORYL® RESIN FOR WIRE COATING

GE Advanced Materials today introduced a new family of halogen-free, flexible NORYL® modified-polyphenylene ether (MPPE) resin as an alternative to polyvinyl chloride (PVC), flame-retarded polyethylene (FR-PE), and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) in wire-coating applications for the direct-current (DC) cord and plug segments of the consumer electronics industry.  BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — Feb. 2, 2004 — GE Advanced Materials today introduced a new family of flexible NORYL® modified-polyphenylene ether (MPPE) resin as an alternative to polyvinyl chloride (PVC), flame-retarded polyethylene (FR-PE), and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) in wire-coating applications for the direct-current (DC) cord and plug segments of the consumer electronics industry. The new products –
NORYL WCD910 and NORYL WCP860 resins – have passed bending-strength tests by charger manufacturers, address eco-label flame-retardant application concerns, and, unlike PVC, contain no halogens, such as chlorine, which can break down into dioxins and toxic, highly acidic gasses when burned. The new GE resins also offer a lower specific gravity than FR-PE and TPU – weight reductions of 20 to 30 percent are achievable – as well as faster extrusion rates for potentially higher productivity and lower systems costs.

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

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. 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 GIVES SIGNIFICANT COST AND WEIGHT SAVINGS IN LOW VOLUME AUTOMOTIVE BONNETS/HOODS

As the result of a joint development, GE Advanced Materials’ AZDEL SUPERLITE® composite will be used by BI Composites Plc, a major UK automotive molder, to replace the steel in the bonnet/hood of a high-powered sports vehicle to be launched by a leading international carmaker in early 2004. In high-speed, offset front-impact tests, the bonnets exhibited less damage than that sustained by similar steel panels tested under the same procedure. The bonnets’ adhesive bonding also remained intact throughout impact testing. BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — Feb. 2, 2004 — As the result of a joint development, GE Advanced Materials’ AZDEL SUPERLITE® composite will be used by BI Composites, a major UK automotive molder, to replace the steel in the bonnet/hood of a high-powered sports vehicle to be launched by a leading international carmaker in early 2004.

GE’S ADVANCE INTO ELECTRONICS IS FUELED FURTHER BY LAUNCH OF ILLUMINEX™ DIFFUSER FILMS FOR OPTICAL DISPLAYS

ILLUMINEX™ optical display films, made from GE Advanced Materials’ LEXAN® polycarbonate resin, are now available to meet growing worldwide demand for diffuser films in LCD applications ranging from television screens, personal digital assistants (PDAs), desktop computer monitors, and Note PCs to GPS navigation units, cell phones, and automobile LCDs to cameras, and portable DVDs. These new products feature excellent optical properties that are built into the film formulation and/or molded into the film surface to deliver unprecedented levels of cost-effective quality and performance.  BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — Feb. 2, 2004 — To help meet growing worldwide demand for diffuser films, GE Advanced Materials, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), introduced today a new global line of optical display films made from LEXAN® polycarbonate (PC) resin. Called LEXAN® ILLUMINEX™ diffuser films, the products feature excellent optical properties that are built into the film formulation and/or molded into the film surface to deliver unprecedented levels of cost-effective quality and performance. Potential target applications include television screens, personal digital assistants (PDAs), desktop computer monitors, Note PCs, GPS navigation units, cell phones, automobile LCDs, cameras, and portable DVDs.

GE ADVANCED MATERIALS’ PUSH INTO GLOBAL ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTED BY NEW LEXAN® EXL RESINS FOR PORTABLE DEVICES

LEXAN® EXL 9112 and LEXAN® EXL 1434 resins provide various levels of flame retardancy, high flow, broad chemical resistance, and enhanced weatherability. They are a strong fit for use in portable electronics, converged devices, telecommunications, and handheld computer applications, and join LEXAN EXL 9330 and LEXAN EXL 1414 resins, two previously introduced EXL products. LEXAN EXL 9112 resin was chosen by LG Electronics for use in its new mobile phone battery pack. Motorola, Inc. has selected LEXAN EXL 1414 resin for use on the enclosure on its recently launched V300 cell phone.  BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — Feb. 2, 2004 — In the 51st year since the discovery of LEXAN® polycarbonate (PC) by GE scientist Dr. Daniel W. Fox, GE Advanced Materials is once again expanding its product offerings based on this highly versatile resin technology. Two new grades of the company’s toughened LEXAN EXL polycarbonate/siloxane resin have been added to the growing resin portfolio: LEXAN EXL 9112 resin and LEXAN EXL 1434 resin. These products provide various levels of flame retardancy that help address eco-label needs along with high flow, broad chemical resistance, and enhanced weatherability. They are a potentially strong fit for use in portable electronics, converged devices, telecommunications, and handheld computer applications. The new materials join LEXAN EXL 9330 and LEXAN EXL 1414 resins, two previously introduced LEXAN EXL resin products.

Thomas Schmidt wird Geschäftsführer von GE Advanced Materials, Plastics Deutschland

GE PlasticsBERGEN OP ZOOM, die Niederlande – 2. Feb. 2004 - Mit Wirkung zum 01. Januar 2004 wurde Thomas Schmidt zum Regional General Manager von General Electric’s deutscher Kunststoffsparte ernannt. Damit ist der ausgebildete Dipl Ing der Kunststofftechnik Nachfolger von Volker Neuber. Das in Rüsselsheim ansässige Tochterunternehmen von General Electric ist die groesste Verkaufsorganisation innnerhalb GE Advanced Materials Europe und wird seit 18 Monaten als eigenständige operative Einheit/ eigenständiges Unternehmen gefuehrt. Mit diesem Schritt untermauert GE Advanced Materials, Plastics die Strategie des Mutterkonzerns General Electric, sich noch stärker auf den Wachstumsmarkt Europa und insbesondere auf Deutschland zu fokussieren. Die Hauptaufgabe von Schmidt wird sein, durch den kunden- und serviceorientierten Ausbau von Marketing und Vertrieb, Marktanteile im Kunststoffmarkt vor allem in der Telekommunikations- , Konsumenten- und Elektronikindustrie hinzuzugewinnen.