Innovation in New Components Technologies is Focus of GE s Participation in European Automotive Components Expo 2005

Transcription

1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Innovation in New Components Technologies is Focus of GE s Participation in European Components Expo 2005 STUTTGART, GERMANY May 31, 2005 Innovation in New Components Technologies is the theme of the exhibit (Hall 7, Stand 7057) at the European Components Expo (EACE) at the Messe Stuttgart here, from May 31 - June 2, GE will take part in the expo with a broad spectrum of raw materials, innovations, and solutions. GE s participation in the European Components Expo showcases the company s new material innovations for components, delivered through leading technologies and featuring a full range of traditional applications such as mirror housings and spoilers, along with newer applications like roof racks, running boards, and wipers. The new material technologies being introduced are the latest grade of Noryl* BN9003G resin for blow-molding applications (i.e. spoilers); new Geloy* XTW resin for mirror housings, appliqués, trims, and grilles; Xenoy* X4000BM resin for running boards and step assists; Cycoloy* CP8930 resin, a chrome plating grade for exterior and interior door handles, running boards, wheel covers, grilles, roof racks, and trim components; as well as conductive Noryl GTX* resin for tank flaps allowing on-line electrostatic painting. GE s Visualfx* special effects resin also helps automotive components stand out from the crowd with a designers paradise of over 34 different effects and over 33,000 dynamic color variants, loadings, and derivatives to contrast. The newest grade of Noryl BN9003G resin can help manufacturers produce blow-molded spoilers with lower system costs by means of maximized efficiency in manufacturing via reduced sanding time. Thinner wall capability with equal performance along with higher heat performance, tensile and impact strength, and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) vs. high heat acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) also help manufacturers with reducing their system costs. This new grade may also provide lower odor and improved chemical resistance to gasoline and diesel fuel that can potentially cause damage to spoiler surfaces. The spotlight falls next on Geloy XTW resin, which is a key solution for paint elimination and part of the GE ecomagination series of products designed specifically to help customers meet environmental concerns. Geloy XTW resin offers best-in-class weathering, multiple color capability, high gloss and jetness to help OEMs reduce their dependence on paint solutions. Hence this GE grade can help OEMs achieve cost savings from the elimination of paint operations. Visualfx resins add a new dimension to the design of both interior and exterior car components. Rich colors and special effects come straight from the mold, thereby eliminating the need for more costly painting and coating operations. Furthermore, unlimited opportunities for product differentiation help manufacturers to attract new customers and conquer niche markets. The constantly evolving Visualfx resins portfolio, featuring Lexan*, Cycoloy, Geloy, Xylex*, Xenoy, and Cycolac* resins, is regrouped into five families of colors and special effects. Whether it is metallic, warm yellow, down-to-earth brown, or dynamic red, automotive customers can rely on a consistent, high quality finish that can potentially replace paint applications. Page 1 of 1

2 Another new material is high-heat, conductive Noryl GTX resin, which enables on- and in-line painting, while eliminating the need for a conductive primer. It can also provide improved paint transfer efficiency (reduced volatile organic compounds (VOCs)/sludge), cycle time reduction, and improved quality over comparable materials. Noryl GTX resin is an excellent choice for tank flaps, providing automotive manufacturers a cost-effective, on-line painting solution vs. off-line painting. It also offers low warpage, dimensional stability, reduced environmental impact, and higher overall quality compared to traditional materials. Another GE introduction is the chrome-plating grade Cycoloy CP8930, which is poised to respond to new trends: Continuing growth in grilles and trim applications for trucks and SUVs Greater use of chrome in luxury cars Growth in the use of wheel covers and wheel trim Increasing complexity of plated nameplates Exterior door handles with bigger impact and heat requirements New applications including roof racks and running boards Addressing increased performance requirements for heat resistance and stiffer OEM standards, Cycoloy CP8930 resin is providing a strong and durable solution to trendier metallic looks. Unique, chrome-plated vehicle components made of Cycoloy CP8930 resin, which provide shine and gloss, enable vehicle consumers to differentiate themselves from their peers. The final offering in the portfolio of top new GE solutions is Xenoy X4000BM resin for blow molded running boards or step assists. Xenoy X4000BM resin solutions offer superior hang strength and processing windows along with excellent regrind stability/usage. The Xenoy resin solution was designed to meet critical specifications for Asian OEMs such as significant weight reduction vs. steel beams, excellent impact and toughness, and cost savings via improved parts consolidation, in contrast to conventional steel systems utilized today. The new GE grade can also be utilized in recreational vehicles, a growing market sector for GE. Differentiated State-of-the-Art Components The market for differentiated, state-of-the-art components in Europe is expected to continue growing at an above-average rate over the next few years, said Venkatakrishnan Umamaheswaran, market director, Components,. This is particularly true for newer thermoplastic resins offering premium features with superior performance. GE Advanced Materials is determined to further strengthen our position in this growing segment. We are investing in new technology and state-of-the-art production facilities in Germany, India, and China so that we can participate in the strong growth markets of Asia/Pacific and Eastern Europe. High-quality thermoplastics with high gloss and reduced VOC content and reduced paint and primer solutions are becoming increasingly important in Europe and globally. Comparisons with other materials show that these new systems meet or even exceed today s high quality standards for the production of components. GE s introduction of paint-elimination solutions reflects the company s commitment to innovative and environmentally compatible products. Page 2 of 2

3 About ( is a world leader in providing hightechnology material solutions. Headquartered in Pittsfield, Mass., its businesses include Plastics, Silicones, Quartz,, Specialty Film & Sheet, Polymershapes, and Sealants and Adhesives. GE (NYSE: GE) is Imagination at Work a diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world's toughest problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, media content and advanced materials, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at * Noryl, Geloy, Xenoy, Cycoloy, Noryl GTX, Visualfx, Lexan, Xylex, and Cycolac are trademarks of General Electric Company. Contacts Europe Anne Rohinsky, Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands Tel: anne.rohinsky@ge.com The Americas Christopher Tessier, Pittsfield, Mass. Tel: christopher.tessier@ge.com Agency Contacts Europe Folke Markus Marketing Solutions, Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands Tel: fmarkus@marketingsolutions.be The Americas Jim Allison AH&M Marketing Communications, Pittsfield, Mass. Tel: , Ext jallison@ahminc.com China Jefferson Hou Weber Shandwick, Shanghai, China Tel: jhou@webershandwick.com Japan Mitsu Sugino Tokyo PR Inc., Tokyo, Japan Tel: sugino@tokyopr.co.jp Page 3 of 3

4 , Innovation in Components Sejin Running Board Blow Molded from GE s Xenoy* X4000 BM Resin Sejin has selected GE s high-performance Xenoy X4000BM resin for blow-molded running boards on select vehicles. The resin offers superior hang strength and processing windows vs. competitive products, along with excellent regrind stability/usage. Xenoy X4000BM resin was developed to help global OEMs such as Sejin meet such critical design specifications as weight reduction, excellent impact and toughness, and cost savings via parts consolidation vs. conventional steel-beam systems utilized in many vehicles today. The new GE grade can also be used to mold recreational vehicle components. * Xenoy is a trademark of General Electric Company. Page 4 of 4

5 , Innovation in Components GE s Conductive Noryl GTX* Resin Used for Tank Flaps GE s high-heat, conductive Noryl GTX resin enables on- and in-line painting, while eliminating the need for a conductive primer. It can also provide improved paint transfer efficiency for reduced volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and sludge, faster cycle times, and improved quality vs. metals and competitive plastic materials. Noryl GTX resin is an excellent choice for a range of automotive applications including the Jaguar tank flap pictured above providing automakers with a cost-effective, on-line painting solution vs. off-line painting. Noryl GTX resin also offers low warpage, excellent dimensional stability, and higher overall performance compared to traditional materials. * Noryl GTX is a trademark of General Electric Company. Page 5 of 5

6 , Innovation in Components GE s Noryl* BN9003G Resin for Blow Molded Spoilers GE s new Noryl BN9003G resin can help car manufacturers produce blow-molded spoilers such as the Pontiac Grand Prix spoiler pictured above for lower system costs by maximizing efficiency in manufacturing via reduced sanding time. The new GE material enables thinner wall molding capabilities, higher heat performance, improved tensile and impact strength, and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) vs. such traditional products as high heat acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). This new grade may also provide lower odor and improved chemical resistance to gasoline and diesel fuel that can potentially damage spoiler surfaces. * Noryl is a trademark of General Electric Company. Page 6 of 6

7 , Innovation in Components GE s Geloy* FXW751SK and Visualfx* Resins for Interior Components Geloy FXW751SK resin with Visualfx special effects resin both from GE offer a key solution for paint elimination on interior automotive components. For applications like the Ford shifter knob pictured above, the resins help retain outstanding, long-term aesthetics vs. painted parts, from which the paint can fade or wear off over time. Geloy resin also offers multiple color capability, high gloss, and jetness to further help OEMs reduce their dependence on paint for potentially greater cost savings from the elimination of paint operations. * Geloy and Visualfx are trademarks of General Electric Company. Page 7 of 7

8 , Innovation in Components GE s Geloy* FXW750SK and Visualfx* Resins for Exterior Components GE s Geloy FXW750SK and Visualfx resins are used to mold roof racks on the Nissan Quest. The GE materials help automotive OEMs eliminate the use of paint and offer best-in-class weatherability on exterior automotive components, as well multiple color capability and high gloss and jetness. In addition to helping OEMs reduce their dependence on paint to achieve cost savings from the elimination of paint operations, Geloy FXW750SK offers excellent impact strength, chemical resistance, and outstanding overall performance. * Geloy and Visualfx are trademarks of General Electric Company. Page 8 of 8