29 May 2007
GE Plastics Helps 3TU Develop the First Open-Source Concept Car for the Netherlands Foundation for Nature and Environment
The first “green” open-source concept car, developed as a joint effort by the Netherlands Foundation for Nature and Environment and three Dutch technical universities, features innovative materials from GE Plastics that reduce weight for better fuel economy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Used in exterior glazing for the c,mm,n first “open source” concept car, GE’s Lexan* GLX polycarbonate (PC) resin, makes a significant contribution to the sustainability of the vehicle.
29 May 2007
GE Plastics Helps Merivaara Spotlight New Material Solutions for its Merilux Examination Lamp
Merivaara, a leading supplier of medical equipment in northern Europe, designs its products to optimize patient treatment – both by improving patient comfort and by increasing caregiver efficiency. The company sought to redesign its Merilux X1 general-purpose examination lamp to reduce the amount of heat generated by the existing aluminum reflector, which could make the patient, examination room, and lamp housing too warm. At the same time, Merivaara wanted to simplify the design of the housing, which was constructed primarily of metal. To find better material solutions for these two very different components, Merivaara turned to GE Plastics because of its broad array of high-tech products and many value-added services.
29 May 2007
GE’s Ultem* Resins Contribute Strength & Biocompatibility to Unique, Award-Winning Surgical Skin Stapler
Improving Patient Safety and Comfort
Using two grades of GE’s Ultem* resin in seven components of its INSORB®|20 subcuticular skin stapler, Incisive Surgical, Inc. created a first-of-its-kind device that helps improve surgical outcomes while avoiding the risk of needle sticks for patients and clinicians.
29 May 2007
GE Plastics Helps GE Healthcare Deliver a Powerful OB/GYN Ultrasound System Combining Contemporary Appearance and Robust Functionality
The latest generation of GE Healthcare’s Voluson® ultrasound product line is the E8 model, featuring real-time three-dimensional images and state-of-the-art technology. The Voluson® E8 is one-third smaller and lighter than its predecessor, offering flat screen display and significant improvements in both its hardware and software components. Its advanced technology imaging platform includes improved measuring devices such as the 4D transvaginal probe and SonoVCAD – Sonography Video-based Computer Aided Diagnosis – and full DICOM connectivity allowing interface with PACS and other image management systems.
29 May 2007
GE Helps Winchester Transition its Connectors to High-Temperature Soldering for Lead-Free Applications without Costly Retooling
Lead and other heavy metals have been shown to accumulate in the environment. The European Union’s (EU) Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive limits the use of these materials in electrical/electronic (E/E) components and products. The RoHS regulations have led to industry adoption of a soldering process that meets lead-free requirements for surface mounting of connectors onto printed circuit boards.
21 May 2007
GE SELECTS SABIC TO ACQUIRE
PLASTICS UNIT FOR $11.6 BILLION
May 21, 2007 New York, NY – GE (NYSE: GE) and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) today announced that they had reached agreement for SABIC to acquire GE Plastics for a purchase price of $11.6 billion. Announcement of the acquisition was made by Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO of GE and Mohamed Al-Mady, Vice Chairman and CEO of SABIC.
“As a global operating company, SABIC has a long-term, strategic interest in the people, communities, customers, products, plants and technology of GE Plastics,” said Mr. Al-Mady, in making the announcement. “This acquisition represents another important step in SABIC’s growth and diversification to become one of the world’s leading manufacturing companies.”
“This business is complementary to our existing business without any overlaps. SABIC’s intention is to grow the business globally”, he added. “SABIC is well-positioned to do this, while adding high-performance plastics to the product range SABIC currently offers to customers.”
15 May 2007
GE Plastics Acknowledges Key Partnerships with European Logistics Services Providers at Annual Awards Ceremony
BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — May 15, 2007 — Highlighting the critical role of its logistics partners in delivering excellent customer service during 2006, GE Plastics honored five companies and two individuals at an awards ceremony and dinner here on April 12. The awards program, now in its fourth year, recognizes the quality, service, and on-time delivery exhibited by logistics services providers that enable GE Plastics to meet its commitment to customers.
8 May 2007
GE Plastics Adds New Conductive Noryl GTX* Resins to the Company’s Expanding ecomagination* Product Portfolio
BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — May 8, 2007 — GE Plastics’ conductive Noryl GTX* resins have officially joined GE’s growing ecomagination* product portfolio. These new, environmentally responsible materials are optimized for powder coating: they contain conductive fillers that eliminate the need to apply an electrostatic primer, which can emit harmful solvents and related compounds into the air. In powder-coating applications, Noryl GTX resins can replace metal substrates, eliminating costly and potentially hazardous chemical pre-treatments and offering increased design freedom. Also, the Noryl resin grades make it possible to powder-coat metal and plastic on the same production line for economies of scale and uniform aesthetics.
26 Apr 2007
GE Plastics - Aircraft Interiors Press Material
April 26, 2007 - GE Plastics today launched new high performance material solutions for a wide range of aircraft interiors applications. These new material solutions are Ultem 9085, Noryl LS6010 and Lexan FST9705.
26 Apr 2007
GE Launches FST-Compliant Ultem* 9085 Resin with Improved Flow Properties for Thinner, Lighter-Weight Aircraft Interior Parts
BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — April 26, 2007 — To help the aerospace industry boost fuel efficiency, performance, and safety, GE Plastics today announced new flame-retardant Ultem* 9085 resin for aircraft interiors. This new material offers better flow and ductility than GE’s Ultem 9075 resin – the previous industry standard – to enable thinner-wall parts with excellent impact strength. Further comparing the two materials, new Ultem 9085 resin can reduce part weight by 5 to 15 percent via thinner walls, supporting the goal of lower fuel consumption. At the same time, Ultem 9085 resin delivers the highest modulus of any Ultem resin grade, providing enhanced stiffness to ensure excellent application durability. These greatly improved properties make the new GE product a top choice for demanding applications such as decompression grilles, window reveals, and personal service units.
26 Apr 2007
GE Plastics Debuts Low-Smoke Noryl* Resin for Increased Safety and Performance in Demanding Aircraft Interior Applications
BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — April 26, 2007 — GE Plastics today launched its new Noryl* LS6010 resin offering aircraft OEMs and suppliers an advanced, high-tech solution to the challenges of compliance with toughening global flame, smoke, and toxicity requirements. In addition, Noryl LS6010 resin has a specific gravity of 1.1, which is one of the lowest available for thermoplastics used in aerospace. Its light weight characteristic, combined with extremely low smoke performance, exceptional durability, and non-halogenated flame retardance (FR), make this innovative new material a superior choice vs. many competitive materials for interior aircraft applications, such as rub strips and seat track covers, where low smoke propagation is mandated. It is available from GE Plastics in custom colors.
26 Apr 2007
Enabling Lighter-Weight Parts and Molded-in Color, GE Plastics’ Lexan** FST Resin Helps Aircraft Interior Design Take Flight
BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — April 26, 2007 — GE Plastics today introduced Lexan** FST9705 polycarbonate (PC) copolymer, a totally new resin platform to help OEMs and aircraft interior suppliers achieve weight-out and cost-out goals without sacrificing processability. Complementing GE Plastics’ high-performance Ultem** PEI flame-retardant resins, this new material gives designers a fresh solution to today’s stringent performance, regulatory, and aesthetic requirements. Lexan FST9705 resin is an excellent candidate for such applications as personal service units, window reveals and bezels, and provides a unique combination of advantages: full flame/smoke/toxicity compliance including OSU 55/55 heat-release performance; molded-in color including bright whites; and the ability to produce ductile, thin-wall parts that can contribute to fuel conservation through lighter weight.
