NEW GE LEXAN® SOLAR CONTROL PRODUCTS LIMIT HEAT YET LET IN HIGH LEVELS OF LIGHT

GE Advanced Materials has introduced two new families of transparent, solar-control glazing products in solid sheet and multi-wall polycarbonate sheet that reduce solar transmission by as much as 40 percent, while simultaneously offering the highest levels of light transmission, helping save energy costs for cooling and lighting buildings. The solid product is called LEXAN® EXELL® Solar Control IR sheet, and the multi-wall product is called LEXAN THERMOCLEAR® Solar Control IR sheet. Both products are excellent candidates for roof domes, skylights, walkways, conservatories, and other building applications where it is desirable to admit high levels of light while keeping excess heat to a minimum. Additionally, the solid product is aimed at public transportation applications, such as train and bus glazing. 

LEXAN® EXELL® Solar Control IR sheet BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — GE Advanced Materials today introduced two new families of transparent, solar-control glazing products in solid sheet and multi-wall polycarbonate sheet that significantly reduce solar transmission while simultaneously offering high levels of light transmission, helping save energy costs for cooling and lighting buildings. The solid product is called LEXAN® EXELL® Solar Control IR sheet, and the multi-wall product is called LEXAN THERMOCLEAR® Solar Control IR sheet. Both products are excellent candidates for roof domes, skylights, walkways, conservatories, and other building applications where it is desirable to admit high levels of light while keeping excess heat to a minimum. Additionally, the solid product is aimed at public transportation applications, such as train and bus glazing. No other thermal-management, polymer-based glazing provides both the level of effectiveness in blocking (absorbing) infrared (IR) heat and high transparency to visible light as these new GE materials.

GE Advanced Materials offers lower cost option for unique metallic looks

Modern appliance manufacturers increasingly find themselves navigating between appealing design that will attract customers and low production cost that will maximize profit margin. 
Using Visualfx® resin technology to differentiate in appearance, Spanish appliance leader Fagor Electrodomésticos, chose CYCOLAC® resin for its Innova luxury refrigerator line. The line, which features a unique metallic look and high performance, will be available in second quarter 2004 to consumers. Modern appliance manufacturers increasingly find themselves navigating between appealing design that will attract customers and low production cost that will maximize profit margin.

BOEING, SIEMENS AMONG TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY LEADERS SELECTING GE’S NEW ULTEM® SHEET FOR OUTSTANDING, DEPENDABLE PERFORMANCE

Boeing has selected GE’s high-heat ULTEM® 1668A sheet for use in its C17 jetliner. Thermoformed by Texstars, Inc., ULTEM 1668A sheet forms the plane’s entire cockpit. Boeing chose the material for its flame, smoke, and toxicity performance and exceptional impact strength. ULTEM 1668A sheet meets commercial aircraft interior requirements, including OSU heat-release rate below 65/65, FAA smoke and flammability testing, and complies with toxicity standards BSS7239 and ABD0031. Paintable and/or available from GE in a range of colors, ULTEM 1668A sheet is finding use in an array of interior aircraft applications, such as passenger service units, seating and flight deck components, galleys, stow bins, and sidewalls. BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — Boeing and Siemens are among a growing number of airline and rail OEMs selecting GE Advanced Materials’ ULTEM® sheet for demanding interior applications due to its flame, smoke, and toxicity compliance and the tremendous strength, excellent aesthetics, and other benefits for which this family of GE materials is known. Two grades in particular are making major inroads into this industry segment. They include ULTEM 1668A sheet, a material developed for use in interior aircraft components, and ULTEM R16SG29 sheet, a new product just introduced in 2003 as the first ULTEM sheet material designed for rail interior applications.

GE Advanced Materials and Nolan team for safety

Nolan chose the co-polymer polycarbonate-siloxane LEXAN EXL® resin for the shell of
its full-face, flip-up helmet model N101, and the use of this material has since been extended to the complete product range. The specific grade chosen offers excellent impact resistance at low temperatures, superior chemical resistance and enhanced paintability when compared to traditional polycarbonate resins. The production of protective motorcycling helmets by the Nolan Group of companies began in the early 1970s, when it was decided that LEXAN polycarbonate resin, the same innovative material used by NASA for astronaut helmets, would be used to further improve motorcycle helmet safety. Throughout its 35-year history, in partnership with GE Advanced Materials, the Nolan Group has continuously raised the standard of its products, has broadened its range and has encouraged the honing of increasingly sophisticated materials.

Keeping cool at the summer Olympics

GE today announced that an innovative and expandable new NORYL® resin grade from  GE Advanced Materials will help keep spectators and athletes alike refreshed at the Athens 
Summer Olympics. TECUMSEH Europe, a specialist refrigeration system supplier, and FRIGOGLASS, a specialist supplier of cold drink machines, chose NORYL EEF 2110 resin as the key material for a new refrigerated vending machine that will provide greater ease and flexibility in machine maintenance. The vending machines will be fully commercial in summer 2004, with a debut at the Athens Summer Olympics. Tecumseh Europe chooses GE’s eco-friendly, expandable NORYL® resin for new vending machine design

CAMERON NAMED AREA MANAGER, UK AND IRELAND

John Cameron
Area Manager, UK and Ireland
 BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — July 30, 2004. John Cameron has been named area manager for the UK and Ireland, reporting to Bas Blom, regional general manager for Northern Europe. In this role, Cameron will lead the sales team for GE Advanced Materials, Plastics in serving the area's customer population and optimizing sales support to drive growth.

Performance plastics keep luminaries burning brightly at the pumps

Petrol station architects face tough design and material challenges when choosing luminary structures. Harsh environmental conditions, combined with the gasoline vapors require luminary lenses that can stand up to the elements. Leading European lighting manufacturer, Phillips uses LEXAN® SLX resin in its petroleum station lighting product line MINI300 for its ability to combat the environmental conditions that typically result in damaged lights. Petrol station architects face tough design and material challenges when choosing luminary structures. Harsh environmental conditions, combined with the gasoline vapors require luminary lenses that can stand up to the elements. Leading European lighting manufacturer, Phillips uses LEXAN® SLX resin in its petroleum station lighting product line MINI300 for its ability to combat the environmental conditions that typically result in damaged lights.

GE ADVANCED MATERIALS INTRODUCES NEW FLAME RETARDANT STARFLAM® COMPOUNDS TO AID CUSTOMER COMPLIANCE WITH EU DIRECTIVES

Six new grades of STARFLAM® ECO-FR compounds have been added today to the LNP Product Line of GE Advanced Materials, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE). The new materials which are based on glass fiber reinforced PA6, PA66 and PA66/6 have been combined with the new X-GEN ECO-FR technology to provide a wide range of performance options coupled with halogen-free and red phosphorus-free flame retardancy. 

Key is that the new STARFLAM ECO-FR compounds will help electrical and electronic application OEMs to avoid the cost and administrative impact of upcoming EU legislation, which will impose new rules on the end of life disposal of components containing halogenated flame retardants. BERGEN OP ZOOM - The Netherlands, June 29, 2004 – Six new grades of STARFLAM® ECO-FR compounds have been added today to the LNP Product Line of GE Advanced Materials, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE). The new materials which are based on glass fiber reinforced PA6, PA66 and PA66/6 have been combined with the new X-GEN ECO-FR technology to provide a wide range of performance options coupled with halogen-free and red phosphorus-free flame retardancy.

iGuzzini illuminazione Chose Lexan* SLX Resin to Brighten up their Lighting Portfolio

Italian architectural lighting manufacturer, iGuzzini illuminazione, selected GE Advanced Materials’ LEXAN® SLX resin for its GEM suspended luminaries. With its extreme resistance to harsh environmental conditions, LEXAN SLX resin is a superior fit for many lighting applications requiring the use of polycarbonate materials. iGuzzini illuminazione, Italian architectural lighting manufacturer , is a leader in technical lighting, providing stylish lighting solutions to some of Europe's most visible locations. They selected GE-Plastics’ Lexan SLX resin for its GEM suspended luminaries. With its extreme resistance to harsh environmental conditions, Lexan SLX resin is a superior fit for many lighting applications requiring the use of polycarbonate materials.

Materials, performance and technical support open windows of opportunity in Germany

German window manufacturer Dimex is on the cutting edge of innovation in the building and construction industry with a new fenestration application developed with GE Advanced Materials. The new Dicolour line, the first high gloss capped window profile to hit the European market, uses innovative materials solution GELOY® resin.

The unique resin grade possesses weatherability properties superior to similar resin competitors, along with high gloss and color retention. Added to GE Advanced Materials’ extensive color technology expertise, this performance plastic was a perfect fit. German window manufacturer Dimex is on the cutting edge of innovation in the building and construction industry with a new fenestration application developed with GE Advanced Materials. The new Dicolour line, the first high gloss capped window profile to hit the European market, uses innovative materials solution GELOY® resin.

NEW GEAR PACKAGE FROM GE CONSOLIDATES LUBRICATED RESINS, TRAINING, SPECS FOR DEMANDING ELECTRONICS, INDUSTRIAL, AUTO AND APPLIANCE APPLICATIONS

GE Advanced Materials company, has consolidated select grades of its self-lubricated LUBRICOMP®, LUBRILOY®, and FULTON® compounds with GE’s ULTEM® resin gear grades to create a new, specialized gear package of materials. The new package also features a robust Internet-based teaching module and a full range of design specifications to facilitate the materials selection process. Appropriate for both new and experienced gear designers in sectors as diverse as consumer electronics, automotive, power tools, appliance, document handling, and industrial, the new gear package is the first of its kind to be offered by a plastics compound supplier.  BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — June 29, 2004 — GE Advanced Materials company – has consolidated select grades of its self-lubricated LUBRICOMP®, LUBRILOY®, and FULTON® compounds with GE Advanced Materials’ ULTEM® resin gear grades to create a new, specialized gear package of materials. The new package also features a robust Internet-based teaching module and a full range of design specifications to facilitate the materials selection process.

GELOY® resin helps switch-on to future needs

As one of the industry’s global leaders, Schneider Electric España SA, has already been using engineering thermoplastics for some years because they offer a balanced combination of design freedom, ease of processing, excellent aesthetics and recyclability. To help find the material that could optimize Schneider’s ability to deliver the full range of properties required for a popular range of its electrical switch frames and sockets in Schneider’s special ‘Polar White’ color, the company turned to GE Advanced Materials. Schneider chose GELOY® resin as its solution for this ‘appearance’ part, where material color stability, gloss and surface quality are key demands. Keeping pace with consumers’ desires for new styles and enhanced aesthetics is just one of the many demands faced by electrical manufacturers. A relatively new demand but one progressively growing in importance, is the requirement to ensure that their products comply with emerging EU Directives on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). This obliges manufacturers to take responsibility for the end-of-life impact their products have on the environment.