GE Plastics, Automotive29 Mar 2006
GE Challenges Royal College of Art Students to Imagine the Future of Automotive Design Using Latest Plastic Technologies
BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — March 29, 2006 — Graduate students from the Vehicle Design department of London’s prestigious Royal College of Art (RCA) are imagining – and modeling - the future of automotive design in plastics during a three-month program and competition called PLASTicon which began in December. To explore the potential of such GE innovations as thermoplastic glazing, plastic body panels, and lighting technologies in futuristic vehicles, approximately 20 students are participating in PLASTicon. They are researching, designing, and building models of “blue sky” vehicles aimed at the needs of different markets – from SUV owners to Gen-Y consumers – and competing for prizes and prestige.
23 Feb 2006
ESTECH Chooses GE’s New Hemocompatible1 Lexan* HPM Resin For Exceptional Reliability in New ClearView MV™ Atrial Depressor
BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — February 23, 2006 — ESTECH presents a new surgical device that features GE’s new hemocompatible1 Lexan* HPM 1914 polycarbonate (PC) resin. ESTECH, a California-based maker of cardiac surgery devices, selected the GE material for the paddle of its new single-use ClearView MV™ Atrial Depressor to help achieve a high level of device reliability and biocompatibility2 in minimally invasive mitral valve repair and replacement procedures. For ESTECH and other device manufacturers, GE’s Lexan HPM resins offer the typical strength of PC as well as new capabilities that provide improved hemocompatibility1, reduced protein binding, improved low temperature ductility, and the potential for improved flow and release.
1 Feb 2006
GE and the City of Torino Unveil Monument in Piazza Solferino to Commemorate Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games
BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — February 1, 2006 — GE, a worldwide partner of the Olympic Games, and the city of Torino today unveiled an Olympic-themed monument dedicated to the residents and visitors of the city for the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games. Torino Mayor Sergio Chiamparino and president of GE Italy Giuseppe Recchi attended the event at the GE Ice Plaza in Piazza Solferino, in the heart of Torino’s historic city center, where the structure will remain through the Games. The monument is a gift from GE’s 300,000 worldwide employees to the city.
10 Jan 2006
GE Joins Forces with ASC Incorporated to Help Offer New Lifestyle Choices to Automotive Consumers with ‘Sunvertibles’
BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — January 10, 2006 — At the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) here, GE - Plastics announced a new collaboration with specialty-vehicle company ASC Incorporated, showcasing the first results of a joint effort to give car buyers unique and exciting factory-installed options to suit their lifestyles. ASC’s patent-pending, bi-directional InfiniVu™ “open-air” sliding-roof system, which is incorporated into a prototype minivan dubbed the ASC TriLite, features GE’s Lexan* GLX polycarbonate (PC) resin for style, safety, and weight savings. This application marks the first time, worldwide, this GE technology has been showcased in a panoramic automotive roof system – a technology whose advantages include design flexibility to promote creativity and part consolidation; light weight to boost fuel economy; and impact resistance for occupant safety. The new collaboration between GE and ASC, announced today, offers ASC additional cutting-edge innovations for its high-image specialty vehicles as well as its more mainstream vehicle systems, such as open-air roof systems.
13 Dec 2005
GE Expands Global Application Technology Center Capabilities with Special Equipment for Molding and Thermoforming Large Parts
BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — December 13, 2005 — At an open house, GE - Plastics announced a major new enhancement to its Global Application Technology Center here that will enable the development of new materials for large parts such as exterior automotive body panels and glazing. GE’s investment in a state-of-the-art Krauss-Maffei 2700 MX injection compression molding machine will help the company address customer needs for lighter materials and greater design flexibility in large parts. The KM2700 machine is the latest in an array of technology capabilities and services - ranging from design to processing to analysis - offered through six centers of excellence within the Global Application Technology Center. In addition to the Krauss-Maffei molding machine, GE plans to install a new thermoforming machine with twin sheet capacity at the Bergen op Zoom facility in early 2006.
9 Dec 2005
GE - Plastics invests in KM2700 ton injection compression molding machine to help customers save time and resources in product development
On December 7th, Golnar Motaharipour, President of GE - Plastics, Europe and Joseph Maertl, Chief Executive Officer Krauss-Maffei, unveiled a state-of-the-art Krauss- Maffei 2700 ton injection compression molding machine at GE's Global Application Technology Center in Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands. GE's investment will save customers time and resources in product development, while helping GE - Plastics to create and test new materials that address customer needs for lighter materials and greater design flexibility in large parts.The new MX machine series is a further development of Krauss-Maffei's highly successful MC machine series. GE - Plastics resins to be molded using the KM2700 inlcude Noryl GTX* resins for fenders, Xenoy* resins for body panels, and Lexan* GLX resins for automotive glazing, plus a new line of high modulus ductile (HMD) materials that feature propietary nano-filler technology. These HMD materials offer the potential to reduce gaps in automotive body panels through increased stiffness and lower coefficient of thermal expansion.
7 Dec 2005
GE - Plastics invests in KM2700 ton injection compression molding machine to help customers save time and resources in product development
Bergen op Zoom, 7 December, 2005 - Please find below a video of the unveiling of the KM2700 ton injection compression molding machine by Mrs. Golnar Motaharipour and Mr. Josef Märtle of Krauss-Maffei at GE's Global Application Technolog Center in Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands.
7 Dec 2005
Azdel Rail-Lite* Composite Brings Superb Fire and Smoke Safety Aboard Metro-North’s Passenger Locomotives
BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — December 7, 2005 — GE today announced a new grade of Rail-Lite* thermoplastic composite from AZDEL, Inc. made with the company’s Ultem* polyetherimide (PEI) resin to meet the needs of the rail industry for lightweight materials offering superior flame retardance and low smoke and toxicity. The immediate beneficiary: Metro-North Railroad, the third-largest commuter railroad in North America.
7 Dec 2005
GE - Plastics Backgrounder
GE - Plastics (www.geplastics.com) is a world leader in providing high-tech materials solutions through engineering thermoplastics and technology platforms, widely used in automotive, healthcare, consumer electronics, transportation, performance packaging, building & construction, telecommunications, and optical media applications. The company manufactures and compounds polycarbonate, ABS, SAN, ASA, PPE, PC/ABS, PBT and PEI resins, as well as the LNP* line of high-performance specialty compounds. GE - Plastics, Specialty Film & Sheet manufactures high-performance Lexan* sheet and film products used in thousands of demanding applications worldwide. In addition, GE - Plastics’ dedicated Automotive organization is an experienced, world-wide competitor, offering leading plastics solutions for five key automotive segments: body panels and glazing; under the hood applications; component; structures and interiors; and lighting.
24 Nov 2005
Ranger Group launches Organikglass™ with GE’s Lexan* GLX Resin for Automotive Glazing Solutions
BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — November 24, 2005 — Italy’s Ranger Group announced in September that it has chosen GE’s Lexan* GLX resin to launch its new premium automotive glazing line with the tradename Organikglass™. GE’s Lexan GLX polycarbonate (PC) resin, which provides high impact strength, UV protection, and light weight that are especially valuable in large panoramic roofs, sunroofs, and backlights, will be injection-molded at Ranger’s state-of-the-art production facility in Carate Brianza, Italy. Ranger expects to develop new automotive glazing applications that will take advantage of the unique properties of GE’s thermoplastic materials vs. conventional materials.
17 Nov 2005
GE - Plastics’ Ultem* Resins Help Improve Performance of Award-Winning Surgical Skin Stapler
BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — November 17, 2005 — The use of subcuticular absorbable skin staples for closing incisions dramatically improves surgical outcomes while enhancing patient safety and comfort. At the recent MD&M East Show, GE - Plastics showcased the use of its Ultem* polyetherimide (PEI) resins in the award-winning INSORB®|20 subcuticular skin stapler from Minnesota-based Incisive Surgical, Inc. The GE materials provide strength, sterilization capabilities, and biocompatibility in custom colors to this unique disposable device, which combines the superior cosmetic results of absorbable sutures with the rapid closure times of metal skin staplers – while eliminating the need for post-operative staple removal.
