ASHLAND AND SIGNATURE CONTROL SYSTEMS ALIGN TO IMPROVE COMPOSITES MOLDING OPERATIONS
20 June 2005 - Ashland Specialty Chemical Company

Ashland Composite Polymers, a business group within Ashland Specialty Chemical, a division of Ashland Inc, and Signature Control Systems have entered into an alliance that will result in a new technology that composite molding operators can use to improve quality and reduce scrap material. The alliance will join Ashland Composite Polymers' new spiral-flow mold with Signature Control Systems' SmartLab technology.

"Our companies are bringing together two complementary products that will add real bottom-line value to molding operations," said Cedric Ball, global marketing manager for transportation, Ashland Composite Polymers. "Unlike typical designs, our spiral-flow mold employs a wider channel to better simulate actual production. When we add the SmartLab technology, laboratory technicians can immediately characterize a compound by analyzing impedance curves, mold temperature and pressure, and material flow," said Ball.

This agreement, now in effect, provides Ashland Composite Polymers exclusive global rights to market the combined technology. The spiral-flow mold is outfitted with SmartLab, a technology specifically designed for the composites industry, and utilizes Signature Control Systems impedance sensors to capture and record data for analysis. "This is an industry first where thermoset molders can now apply dielectric technology with material displacement and proprietary software to optimize molding performance," stated Tom Trexler, vice president sales and marketing with Signature Control Systems, Inc.

Signature Control Systems, Inc. is a leading process control equipment engineering and manufacturing company providing state-of-the-art technology solutions for the thermoset, rubber and wood processing molding industries. With core competencies in the areas of software development and engineering, mathematical algorithms, control engineering, electrical engineering, chemistry and materials science, Signature builds on core technology to develop intelligent monitoring and control products for a broad range of materials and chemical processing applications. Signature's innovative SmartTrac Intelligent Process Control System, including version 8.00 software and ceramic impedance sensor kit is available now through Signature Control Systems. For more information, please visit www.signaturecontrol.com

Ashland Composite Polymers, a business group of Ashland Specialty Chemical, is a leader in supplying products, processes and technologies to the global marketplace for composites and gel coats.

Ashland Specialty Chemical, a division of Ashland Inc., is a leading, worldwide supplier of specialty chemicals serving industries including adhesives, automotive, composites, metal casting, merchant marine, paint, paper, plastics, watercraft and water treatment. Visit www.ashspec.com to learn more about these operations.

http://www.ashchem.com/ascc/compoly/

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