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GE EXPANDS PRODUCTION CAPACITY TO MEET STRONG DEMAND FOR ADVANCED NXT SILANE USED IN SILICA TYRES
12 April 2005 - GE Advanced Materials
| GE has expanded its capacity for high technology silanes used in the production of silica tires and other high-performance products. |
GE has expanded its capacity for high technology silanes used in the production of silica tires and other high-performance products. Using a proprietary process designed by GE engineers, production start-up commenced in the third quarter of 2004, and last week additional capacity was brought on-line to meet the high demand for this new technology. GE’s NXT silane is produced at a plant in Texas City, Texas. GE declined to disclose its investment in the new capacity for competitive reasons. “Demand has been very strong for our new NXT silane that helps enable fast and easy dispersion of silica during rubber compounding for silica tires,” said Dr. Ian R. Moore, general manager for GE’s global silanes business. “We are focusing resources on new products and processes, and this is another move in our long-term strategy for growth in the silica tire segment. In fewer than 24 months of design and construction, we developed and deployed an innovative process that delivers vastly increased capacity for silanes.” NXT silane is a patented GE molecule that helps circumvent the long, slow, multi-step process required when traditional silanes are used to mix silica with rubber for silica tires. Production line throughput can be improved because silica tire compounds can be processed hot, hard, and fast when NXT silane is used. “Last month we introduced NXT LowV and NXT Ultra-LowV silanes that emit significantly less ethanol during processes that need silanes for coupling unlike materials,” said Wayne Hewett, president and CEO of GE Advanced Materials-Silicones. “GE has widened the manufacturing envelope for mixing silica tire compounds. Our talented scientists and engineers have created and executed a new process to produce NXT silanes. Their innovative process has expanded the NXT silane family with a lower volatile organic compound (VOC) version.” GE estimates that the tire industry could potentially realize several hundred million dollars in manufacturing cost savings with the new NXT silane technology. “With raw material prices escalating, the NXT silane family of products may offer tire manufacturers significant cost reductions in other areas,” Hewett said. Tom Stanley, global technology leader for Silicones, said “We have delivered on an accelerated timeline for this new silane process technology, and there will be more good news to come. GE is committed to the NXT silane product line; our team is working with GE’s world renowned Global Research Center in Niskayuna, N.Y. on next generation technology.” Silica tyres are gaining an edge in the consumer market, because consumers are becoming aware that silica tires offer numerous benefits. Tire-rolling resistance may be reduced up to 20 percent, which can reduce vehicle fuel consumption up to five percent. Silica tread can also improve driving safety by providing better grip on slippery roads. Studies have shown that improved silica tire traction can reduce stopping distances on wet and icy surfaces and improve overall winter driving performance as well.
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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• From GE Advanced Materials
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