DSM ENGINEERING PLASTICS ANNOUNCES NEW FOCUS ON WIRE & CABLE WITH ARNITEL® TPE ELASTOMERS

In addition to its existing family of Arnitel® copolyether-ester and copolyester-ester (COPE or TEEE) elastomeric wire coating materials, DSM is developing new grades for this segment. New initiatives in wire & cable coating materials are announced by DSM Engineering Plastics, a business group within the DSM N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam:DSM) Performance Materials cluster. In addition to its existing family of Arnitel® copolyether-ester and copolyester-ester (COPE or TEEE) elastomeric wire coating materials, DSM is developing new grades for this segment. As well, the assignment of Francis Aussems as Application Development and Technical Service Manager with special focus on wire applications provides a dedicated resource to the wire and cable segment.

SIEMENS VDO GAINS FROM DSM’S STANYL® FOR AUTOMOTIVE SENSOR HOUSINGS

Siemens VDO makes a number of automotive sensor housings from DSM Engineering Plastics Stanyl® TW200F6 polyamide 46 (PA46) with 30-percent glass reinforcement. The material offers oil and temperature resistance, strength, and sealing for Siemens VDO components, including the oil-level sensor for Vectra car models from Adam Opel AG shown here. Automotive sensor housings made of DSM Engineering Plastics Stanyl® TW200F6, a polyamide 46 (PA46) with 30-percent glass reinforcement, provide oil and temperature resistance, strength, and sealing for Siemens VDO components, including oil-level sensors for Vectra car models from Adam Opel AG. Better melt flow and mechanical properties compared with PA66 allow Stanyl TW200F6 to flow around sensor elements and inserts for better sealing and encapsulation, improved surface quality, and longer product life. The superior melt flow additionally lessens the potential for damage to sensor elements and wires as it reduces injection moulding cycle times and tooling wear.

NEW AKULON® ULTRAFLOW® PA6 GRADES FOR AUTOMOTIVE ENGINE COVERS OFFER PART PRICE REDUCTION OVER CONVENTIONAL PA GRADES

New Akulon® Ultraflow® PA6 grades for automotive engine covers offer part price reduction over conventional PA grades June 8th, 2004 - DSM Engineering Plastics announces new Akulon Ultraflow polyamide 6 (PA6) glass- and mineral-reinforced, heat-stabilised grades , particularly applicable for automotive engine covers that emphasize aesthetics or acoustics. Less of the Akulon Ultraflow grades, K220-HGM44 and K-FHGM24, is often needed because its use can allow the design of parts with thinner walls and longer flow paths than typically possible with conventional PA grades. Use of the new materials can also lower the part price for engine covers by increasing production speed by up to 40 percent and by reducing or eliminating post-mould decorating and painting. Further savings may also be realised because the high-flow Akulon Ultraflow grades can often use existing tooling designed for polypropylenes and other materials.

HERMAN MILLER EQUA CHAIR BENEFITS FROM STRENGTH, AESTHETIC ADVANTAGES OF DSM’S AKULON® ULTRAFLOW®

Herman Miller Equa Chair Taps DSM’s Akulon® Ultraflow™ Herman Miller, Inc., a leading global provider of office furniture and services in the office furniture industry, has selected Akulon Ultraflow fibreglass-reinforced polyamide resin from , DSM Engineering Plastics for the structural shell on their line of Equa Chairs. Engineers at Herman Miller chose the high-flow polyamide 6 (PA6) for the material’s excellent long-term fatigue performance and superior surface finish. In the Equa chair, Akulon Ultraflow also wards off scuffs and scrapes, helping to maintain the chair’s aesthetics.

DSM’S STANYL® FIBRE-GRADE PA46 DRIVES USE OF PHP’S YARNS IN AUTOMOTIVE V-BELTS

DSM’s Stanyl® fibre-grade PA46 drives use of PHP’s yarns in automotive V-belts. The German company, Polyamide High Performance (PHP) GmbH uses DSM Engineering Plastics’ fibre-grade Stanyl KS411 polyamide 4,6 (PA46) in the production of PHP’s new Stanylenka™ 460HRST fibre. Stanylenka is primarily used in transmission and V-belts and, thanks to its high-temperature strength, in sewing thread for automotive airbags. Stanylenka’s melting point is 30 °C higher than alternative PA66 grades. V-belts made of the high-strength Stanylenka offer a lower system cost in power transmission systems, since the yarn's very low creep and self-tensioning characteristics in this application allow the belts to be used without a tensioner.

STANYL® PRICE INCREASE

DSM Engineering Plastics has confirmed a 6% price adjustment for all grades of Stanyl® high performance polyamide 46 resin.

DSM’s Stanyl® Means Cost Savings for Delphi Connectors

When Delphi Connection Systems took over production of 2mm Header Connectors for a new commercial microprocessor customer, they found themselves facing some pretty big issues with the LCP being used in the application. These issues led them right to DSM Engineering Plastics, whose Stanyl® TE250F6 grade proved itself the perfect material to overcome the challenges, and realize substantial cost savings for both Delphi and its customer. EVANSVILLE, Ind. (July 6, 2004) – When Delphi Connection Systems took over production of 2mm Header Connectors for a new commercial microprocessor customer, they found themselves facing some pretty big issues with the LCP being used in the application. These issues led them right to DSM Engineering Plastics, whose Stanyl® TE250F6 grade proved itself the perfect material to overcome the challenges, and realize substantial cost savings for both Delphi and its customer.

NEW HIGH FLOW STANYL® GRADE FROM DSM HANDLES

Jet engines now benefit from a new, high-flow Stanyl® polyamide 4,6 (PA46) grade from DSM Engineering Plastics. Designed for highly demanding structural elements of aircraft jet engines, Stanyl® 46HF4130 is a 30-percent glass-fibre-reinforced compound that was initially developed for use large thin blades in the intake portion of the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine, engineered for low noise and minimum environmental impact. DSM Engineering Plastics announces the availability of a new grade of high-flow Stanyl® polyamide 46 (PA46) designed for elements of aircraft jet engines. Stanyl 46HF4130 is a 30-percent glass-fibre-reinforced compound that was initially developed for use in the intake portion of the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine, engineered for noise reduction and minimum environmental impact. The engine uses 50 panels with highly complex geometry to minimize noise through a complex section of the engine duct, benefiting from Stanyl’s high strength and moldability.

DSM’S ARNITEL®-TPE COATED FILM NOW AVAILABLE FOR BREATHABLE MEMBRANES IN RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION

DSM Engineering Plastics’ Arnitel-TPE monolithic thermoplastic polyetherester elastomer resin grade for coated film production is now available globally for breathable membranes. DSM’s Arnitel-TPE provides a breathable film—permeable by water vapor and gases—yet waterproof. In Europe, the Film Division of Lenzing AG (Lenzing, Austria) has chosen Arnitel-TPE as the best-in-class material for their roofing applications. With Arnitel film Lenzing can make an excellent film for roof underlinings and roof, wall and floor applications because of Arnitel’s high breathability and good water barrier. DSM Engineering Plastics’ Arnitel-TPE monolithic thermoplastic polyetherester elastomer resin grade for coated film production is now available globally for breathable membranes. DSM’s Arnitel-TPE provides a breathable film—permeable by water vapor and gases—yet waterproof. In Europe, the Film Division of Lenzing AG (Lenzing, Austria) has chosen Arnitel-TPE as the best-in-class material for their roofing applications. With Arnitel film Lenzing can make an excellent film for roof underlinings and roof, wall and floor applications because of Arnitel’s high breathability and good water barrier.

DSM ENGINEERING PLASTICS INTRODUCES NEW HIGH MODULUS, HIGH FINISH AKULON® ULTRAFLOW® K-FG0 GRADE

Akulon® Ultraflow® K-FG0 polyamide 6 (PA6) resin from DSM Engineering Plastics is a new high-flow grade with 50-percent glass-fibre reinforcement, combining high modulus with improved aesthetics. The new Ultraflow grade can achieve significant part cost reduction vs. PA66 grades Akulon® Ultraflow® K-FG0 polyamide 6 (PA6) resin from DSM Engineering Plastics is a new high-flow grade with 50-percent glass-fibre reinforcement, combining high modulus with improved aesthetics. The new Akulon Ultraflow grade can achieve significant part cost reduction vs. conventional PA6 and PA66 grades, for example, through possible cycle time reduction, less material usage, and elimination of painting moulded parts.

DSM ENGINEERING PLASTICS ADDS TO STANYL® TEAM IN EUROPE

Anne Bergsma, General Product Manager, Stanyl Europe. DSM Engineering Plastics has added two members to their Stanyl Team in Europe, as part of the company’s mission to grow the team’s resources in product management, customer service and technical support in Europe and worldwide. The new team members are Anne Bergsma, General Product Manager, Stanyl Europe and Paul Habets, Application Development Manager, Stanyl Europe. Stanyl polyamide (PA) is produced and marketed exclusively by DSM and is available worldwide.

DSM’S ARNITEL® TAKES A POUNDING ON RAILROADS AND LASTS LONGER

With a predicted life of 20 years when used as railway pads, Arnitel® thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) from DSM Engineering Plastics offer better load-bearing capacity than rubber, better abrasion resistance, and the fabrication advantages of injection-moulded or extruded thermoplastics over thermoset rubber moulding. With a predicted life of 20 years when used as railway pads between rails and concrete ties, Arnitel thermoplastic copolyester elastomers (TPEs) from DSM Engineering Plastics offer better load-bearing capacity than rubber, better abrasion resistance, and the fabrication advantages of injection-moulded or extruded thermoplastics over thermoset rubber moulding. With consistent performance from -55 °C to 150 °C and the longest lifetime to failure vs. other TPEs—important owing to the expense and time required for replacing pads—Arnitel®-TPE pads are especially effective at extending the length of continuous use performance and reducing system costs.