5 Apr 2005
GE & China Long Dragon sign JDA to increase performance, safety of China’s passenger train interiors in advance of Beijing Olympics
BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — GE Advanced Materials, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), has announced a joint development agreement (JDA) with China Railway Long Dragon New Composite Materials Co., Ltd. to co-develop high-strength, flame-retardant (FR) components for passenger train interiors based on new AZDEL* Rail-Lite* composite. The new composite can also help provide interior parts with low smoke and toxicity performance and excellent sound-release properties. Under the agreement, GE will supply the material in multiple grades for potential applications such as interior panels, sidewalls, ceilings, floors, and other large interior train parts.
The agreement marks a significant strategic relationship between GE and China Railway Long Dragon. The Chinese company is the biggest original equipment supplier for all new passenger rail car interiors being developed to support China in refurbishing interior trim components used on its national railway system in advance of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. China Railway Long Dragon is the undisputed leader of the country’s railway interiors industry with products that span the country’s 14 railway administrations.
“The excellent mechanical properties and flame, smoke, toxicity, and heat-release performance of lightweight AZDEL Rail-Lite composite is our high-performance solution to the infrastructure challenges that China Railway Long Dragon is trying to address,” said Melanie Cook, GE Advanced Materials’ marketing director for Transportation. “This agreement is a great example of how GE technology can help China improve the safety and efficiency of its rail transportation system.”
The new AZDEL Rail-Lite composite is a low-pressure, thermoformable, lightweight sheet comprised of long glass fibers. The material has been developed to help enable sturdy, lightweight components, panels, and structures that exhibit excellent flame, smoke, toxicity, and heat and sound-release performance.
“China Railway Long Dragon is delighted to have GE’s advanced material expertise and resources on this project,” said Chen Yue, president of China Railway Long Dragon. “We fully anticipate the unique properties of AZDEL Rail-Lite composite to drive significant growth, infrastructure expansion, energy conservation, and passenger safety benefits for our products.”
GE Advanced Materials and China Railway Long Dragon New Composite Materials Co. announced the new joint development agreement at a press conference here today at the Railway Interiors Expo where GE is exhibiting its complete line of high-performance thermoplastic materials for the rail industry in booth C135.
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Notes for editors
About GE Advanced Materials
GE Advanced Materials (http://www.geadvancedmaterials.com) is a world leader in providing materials solutions through engineering thermoplastics, silicon-based products and technology platforms, and fused quartz and ceramics. Among its businesses are:
• Plastics – which is a global plastics materials supplier and distributor, serving customers in a variety of industries including aerospace, appliances, automotive, building and construction, data storage and optical media, medical, electrical and electronics devices, telecommunications, computers and peripheral devices, outdoor vehicles and devices, and packaging (http://www.geplastics.com).
• Silicones – which includes GE Toshiba Silicones in the Pacific region and GE Bayer Silicones in Europe, offering silanes, specialty silicones, urethane additives, adhesives, sealants, resins, and elastomers for a variety of industries such as personal care, automotive, tire and rubber, construction, healthcare, electronics, household and institutional, agriculture, textiles, appliances, bedding and furnishings, foam control, and consumer (< href=http://www.gesilicones.com target=_blank>http://www.gesilicones.com).
• Quartz – which provides high-purity quartz and advanced ceramic materials for the semiconductor, telecommunications, lighting, electronics, personal care, water purification, and various other industries (http://www.gequartz.com).
GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified technology, media, and financial services company dedicated to creating products that make life better. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, television programming, and plastics, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's website at www.http://www.ge.com.
About GE Advanced Materials Specialty Film & Sheet
GE Advanced Materials’ Specialty Film & Sheet business is a leading supplier of high-performance engineering film and sheet products to global industry. Through this business, GE Advanced Materials offers a variety of film materials for display films, graphic films, coated products, electrical and electronics applications, specialty products, and a range of others. The company’s sheet product line includes an array of high-performance structures – from single- and multi-wall sheet, corrugated materials, and coated sheet products to laminates and combinations of each – to serve customers in several key global sectors.
About AZDEL, Inc.
AZDEL, Inc. is a joint venture of GE Advanced Materials and PPG Industries. The AZDEL business was established in 1972 by PPG, and the 50/50 joint venture was set up with GE in 1986. AZDEL is a global leader in the manufacture and supply of high-performance composite materials serving a wide variety of markets and industries including automotive, transportation interiors, large truck, materials handling, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and building and construction.
* AZDEL and Rail-Lite are trademarks of AZDEL, Inc., a 50/50 joint venture of General Electric Company and PPG Industries.
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