ARNITE PBT FROM DSM CUTS REAR WIPER PRODUCTION AND ASSEMBLY TIME, LOWERS VEHICLE WEIGHT

Arnite® TV8 260 is a new 30-percent glass-filled polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) material ideal for rear wiper E-motor gear housings on SUVs and station wagons. Compared to conventional die-cast or sheet-metal alternative materials, Arnite® housings occupy less space, require fewer parts and assembly operations, and permit a wider range of design options to fit sculpted, space-constrained vehicle design. Further, in addition to reducing moulding cycle time, Arnite® PBT’s lower density results in 10-13-percent less material consumption compared with other thermoplastics. Automotive and auto component manufacturers are now benefiting from Arnite® TV8 260, a new 30-percent glass-filled polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) material ideal for rear wiper E-motor gear housings on SUVs and station wagons. Compared to conventional die-cast or sheet-metal alternative materials, Arnite housings occupy less space, require fewer parts and assembly operations, and permit a wider range of design options to fit sculpted, space-constrained vehicle design. Further, in addition to reducing moulding cycle time, Arnite PBT’s lower density results in 10-13 percent less material consumption compared with other thermoplastics.

LIFT TRUCK STEERING WHEEL IS MOULDED 33% FASTER, HAS BETTER SURFACE USING AKULON® ULTRAFLOW® PA6

Euroform AB (Tranås, SE) reduces injection moulding cycle times for a steering wheel for an industrial lift-truck by 33% and gained 49% better productivity after switching from a conventional polyamide 6 (PA6) to Akulon® Ultraflow® PA6 from DSM Engineering Plastics. Euroform AB (Tranås, SE) reduced injection moulding cycle times by 33% in the production of a steering wheel for an industrial lift-truck, and gained 49% better productivity after switching from a conventional polyamide 6 (PA6) to Akulon® Ultraflow® PA6 from DSM Engineering Plastics. Euroform is a general producer of plastic parts for a diversity of customers. DSM Engineering Plastics is a business group within the DSM N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam:DSM) Performance Materials cluster.

HYDRAULIC HOSES FROM EUROPOWER FEATURE ARNITEL® TEE-E CORE FOR LONG-TERM TOP PERFORMANCE

Europower, a major U.K.-based manufacturer of hydraulic hoses and fittings, uses Arnitel® thermoplastic ether ester block copolymer elastomer (TEE-E) from DSM Engineering Plastics as the core of a select line of its hydraulic hoses. Arnitel® offers thinner core walls, greater flexibility and better hot oil resistance than traditional materials. Europower, a major U.K.-based manufacturer of hydraulic hoses and fittings, uses Arnitel® thermoplastic ether ester block copolymer elastomer (TEE-E) from DSM Engineering Plastics for the core of a select line of its hydraulic hoses. DSM Engineering Plastics is a business group within the DSM N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam:DSM) Performance Materials cluster.

DUTCH RAILWAYS USES FRIENDLIER PLASTIC FROM DSM FOR TRAIN CLADDING

Dutch railways uses friendlier plastic from DSM for train cladding Xantar® C CE 407, an unfilled blend of polycarbonate (PC) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) from DSM Engineering Plastics is used by the Dutch Railway to replace train cladding made from polyester sheet. The DSM material was chosen for its lower flammability (M1 classification) and extremely low generation of toxic smoke when burning (F2 classification) due to its use of bromine- and chlorine-free flame-retardant (FR) additives.

FROST & SULLIVAN PRODUCT INNOVATION AWARD FOR STANYL

In the photograph Wilma Nijenhuis (Research & Technology Manager Stanyl), Harry Henssen (Business Manager Stanyl/Xantar) and Rein Borggreve (Research & Technology Director). The Frost & Sullivan Award for Product Innovation is presented each year to the company that has demonstrated excellence in new products and technologies within their industry. The recipient company has shown innovation by launching a broad line of emerging products and technologies.

DSM is revealed as the Market Sector Leader in the World Chemical Sector by the latest Dow Jones Sustainability World Index

Heerlen, Netherlands, 02nd September 2004 – The Dow Jones Sustainability World Index has today named DSM NV, the Netherlands based Life Sciences and Performance Materials company, as the worldwide Sustainability Leader in the Chemical Industry.

RAZOR SHARP AND INDELIBLE LASER MARKING ON VIRTUALLY ANY PLASTIC WITH DSM’S MICABS® TECHNOLOGY

picture Micabs in diverse applications; telecom, keyboards and ID cards At this year’s K Show, DSM will demonstrate Micabs®, a revolutionary additive technology for laser marking on plastics. Invented by DSM researchers, Micabs® is an environmentally friendly, universal solution allowing razor-sharp and indelible laser writing on virtually any plastic. It provides the answer to problems with contrast, resolution and speed when marking darker images and/or text on light-coloured plastic materials.

DSM MATERIALS DELIVER HIGH PERFORMANCE PROPERTIES FOR CONVOLUTED TUBING APPLICATIONS

DSM Engineering Plastics’ Akulon® and Stanyl® polyamides (PAs) and Arnitel® thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) are well-suited to the manufacture of convoluted tubing.  For convoluted tubing, DSM Engineering Plastics – a business group within the DSM N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: DSM) Performance Materials cluster – offers three highly engineered materials, Akulon®, Arnitel® and Stanyl® that deliver a range of high-performance properties such as processing ease, superior toughness, heat resistance, and continuous use temperature range. Convoluted tubing, whose bellows-like form allows it to bend and flex readily, is increasingly found in automobiles, rail equipment, and robotics and machinery where it is used to organise and protect wiring and control components. Halogen-free and flame-retardant (FR) grades are available in all three product families. Grades are generally available in black and natural, which can be coloured via masterbatch.

VW GOLF AIRBAG DEPLOYS SAFER THANKS TO BETTER COLD WEATHER PERFORMANCE OF AIRBAG COVERS MADE WITH ARNITEL® TPE-E FROM DSM

The new Volkswagen Golf A5 driver-side airbags with covers moulded of Arnitel® thermoplastic elastomer ether ester block copolymer (TPE-E) from DSM Engineering Plastics, deploy more safely thanks to the material’s outstanding low-temperature properties. The new Volkswagen Golf A5 driver-side airbags, with covers moulded of Arnitel® thermoplastic elastomer ether ester block copolymer (TPE-E) from DSM Engineering Plastics, deploy more safely thanks to the material’s outstanding low-temperature properties. No cracking or splintering has been observed in covers made of Arnitel® PM471 in cold deployment testing at temperatures as low as -35 °C, outperforming competitive materials. At the same time, the DSM material retains significant strength at temperatures as high as

NEW LASER-WELDABLE AKULON® PA6 FROM DSM OPENS BROAD 3D PRODUCTION OPTIONS FOR ASSEMBLED PRODUCTS THAT REQUIRE STRONG, SMOOTH BONDING

New Laser-Weldable Akulon® PA6 from DSM opens broad 3D production options for assembled products that require strong, smooth bonding. DSM Engineering Plastics, a business group within the DSM N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam:DSM) Performance Materials cluster, today introduced a new, laser-weldable Akulon® black polyamide 6 (PA6) 30% glassfibre reinforced grade, UltraLas™ K224-HWXG6, that offers strong, smooth assembly and sealing along complex geometries.

ARNITE® PROVES BEST FOR NEW SERIES OF FLEXIBLE AUTOMOTIVE CONNECTORS FROM FCI

An extensive evaluation by FCI, a major automotive electrical/electronic connector maker, of materials for a new series of flexible harness connectors resulted in the specification of Arnite® T06 202, an unfilled polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) from DSM Engineering Plastics. An extensive evaluation by FCI, a major automotive electrical/electronic connector maker, of materials for a new series of flexible harness connectors resulted in the specification of Arnite® T06 202, an unfilled polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) from DSM Engineering Plastics. Arnite T06 202 provided the needed balance of toughness, cycle time, flow, and thermal stability, and was selected after testing of more than nine alternatives from DSM and its competitors. On average, cycle time was 10 percent less with Arnite than the alternative materials, while flow was 10 percent better.