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GE ADVANCED MATERIALS, AUTOMOTIVE REVS UP ITS INSTRUMENT PANEL PROGRAM FEATURING TWO NEW BEST-IN-CLASS RESINS
21 March 2005 - GE Advanced Materials
| GE Advanced Materials, Automotive has introduced a reinvigorated Instrument Panel (IP) program, featuring several new high-performance acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and polycarbonate (PC) grades |
Demonstrating another example of its commitment to provide technically advanced material solutions to automotive customers across the globe, GE Advanced Materials, Automotive has introduced a reinvigorated Instrument Panel (IP) program, featuring several new high-performance acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and polycarbonate (PC) grades, as well as an expanded range of world-class technical resources and support. GE shifted its IP program into high gear with the launch of a new series of Xtreme CYCOLOY PC/ABS resin blends, representing the latest materials breakthrough in GE’s continuing development of its CYCOLOY resin family. This selection of impact-resistant resins delivers best-in-class thermal aging and hydrolytic stability, as well as excellent low odour and emissions. The Xtreme CYCOLOY resins also provide significantly improved flow performance compared to standard grades, which may offer automotive OEMs the potential for improving cycle times by as much as 10 percent. Reduced wall thicknesses of up to 10 percent may also be achievable, therefore offering the possibility of lower-cost components. Additional momentum to GE’s upgraded IP program comes from its introduction of LEXAN EXL 1414H resin, a new polycarbonate-siloxane (PC-Si) copolymer grade that offers automotive designers and OEMs new synergies between integrated airbag and IP design, which may help to enhance consumer safety. The low temperature ductility of the new resin, down to –40 C, allows robust airbag deployment with no material fragmentation, potentially increasing consumer safety vs. similar PCs or lower performing resins currently on the market. Also key to airbag and IP designers is GE’s recent innovation of a new integrated seamless airbag door design, and its dedicated Airbag Testing facility located in Pittsfield, Mass., for helping customers with application development. “Designers of modern automotive interiors must strike a delicate balance between functional and safe designs on the one hand, and stylish and consumer-enticing aesthetics on the other,” said Robert Nelson, market director for Interiors & Structures at GE Advanced Materials, Automotive. “GE can help with enhanced performance and better looks for instrument panels, new innovations in integrated airbag door designs, or all of the above. Designers can expect to find an array of solutions and support from GE’s innovative IP program and the advanced new resins we are now offering.” In addition to the new IP program’s impressive array of innovative materials and value-added customer support, automotive OEMs will find that GE Advanced Materials offers several other world-class resources, including:
• One of the broadest product portfolios of colors and effects for interior trim and component applications in the form of its Visualfx resin family;
• Top-end support for performing structural CAE and process simulation to help customers reduce risk and speed up development cycles; and
• An array of offerings from GE’s LNP Specialty Compounds portfolio to address emerging needs such as electronic shielding, noise reduction, and wear resistance. GE Advanced Materials, Automotive distributes all its new and existing IP grades globally, and offers a wide range of resources to support automotive application development worldwide.
http://www.ge.com
About: GE Advanced Materials
GE Advanced Materials is a world leader in providing materials solutions through engineering thermoplastics, silicone-based products and technology platforms, and fused quartz and ceramics. Among its businesses are:• Silicones, which includes GE Toshiba Silicones in the Pacific region and GE Bayer Silicones in Europe, offers 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 (http://www.gesilicones.com/gesilicones/am1/en/home.jsp); • Plastics is a global plastics materials supplier and distributor, which serves 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/); • Quartz produces high purity materials for the semiconductor, fiber optic, lamp making and water purification industries. GE Quartz is a leading supplier of quartz materials to the semiconductor industry (http://www.gequartz.com/en/index.htm); Established in 1968, GE Advanced Materials’ Specialty Film & Sheet business is a leading supplier of high-performance engineering film and sheet products to the United States, Europe, Africa, India, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and operates a worldwide network of sales, research, manufacturing and technical services facilities. Today, GE Advanced Materials, Specialty Film & Sheet employs about 600 people, and manufactures engineering sheet and film products at 12 facilities in 9 countries worldwide. Recent investments:
• 2003 New Roofing Structures Line in Italy, Europe
• 2003 New Coating Lines in China & Malaysia, Pacific
• 2002 Acquisition of Plastech, China
• 2001 New Film Lines in USA and Europe
• 2001 Acquisition of Carboron, Malaysia
• 2000 Acquisition of Matraplast, Canada
• 2000 Acquisition of Nim Plastics, USA Products:
GE Advanced Materials offers a variety of film materials are to meet different type of applications such as graphic film, coated products, electrical & electronic products, and specialties. The key film materials available today include:
• Lexan* Polycarbonate film
• Ultem* film
• Lexan* SLX film
• Valox* film
• Lexan* Illuminex* film GE Advanced Materials’ sheet product line includes a wide range of structures from solid sheet, multi-wall sheet and corrugated sheet through to coated sheet and laminates and combinations of each of these. The key sheet materials available today include:
• Lexan* Polycarbonate sheet
• Lexan* Solar Control IR sheet
• Margard* coated sheet
• Lexgard* laminated sheet
• Ultem* sheet
• Lexan EXL* sheet GE Advanced Materials, Specialty Film & Sheet, serves customers in a variety of industries including aircraft, appliances, automotive, building and construction, business machines, electrical & lighting, furnishing, greenhouse, industrial roofing, medical, electrical and electronics devices, telecommunications and packaging. In January 2004, in line with GE Corporate’ new brand architecture, GE Advanced Materials has announced the change of GE Structured Products business naming to GE Advanced Materials, Specialty Film & Sheet. |
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