New Product Introductions GE Advanced Materials

Press Kit European Media Tour

GE’S ADVANCE INTO ELECTRONICS IS FUELED FURTHER BY LAUNCH OF ILLUMINEX™ DIFFUSER FILMS FOR OPTICAL DISPLAYS

BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — Feb. 2, 2004 — To help meet growing worldwide demand for diffuser films, GE Advanced Materials, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), introduced today a new global line of optical display films made from LEXAN® polycarbonate (PC) resin. Called LEXAN® ILLUMINEX™ diffuser films, the products feature excellent optical properties that are built into the film formulation and/or molded into the film surface to deliver unprecedented levels of cost-effective quality and performance. Potential target applications include television screens, personal digital assistants (PDAs), desktop computer monitors, Note PCs, GPS navigation units, cell phones, automobile LCDs, cameras, and portable DVDs.

GE ADVANCED MATERIALS TARGETS WORLDWIDE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY WITH FIRST-GENERATION PEI FILMS BASED ON X GEN™ RESIN TECHNOLOGY

BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — GE Advanced Materials, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), today introduced ULTEM™ 1000B, ULTEM 5000B, and ULTEM EXSP0023 films. This new family of products is based on the company’s X GEN™ resin technology, a recently launched resin portfolio that pushes high-end polymer performance to even greater levels. The polyetherimide (PEI) films are characterized by their excellent temperature and electrical property performance. The company has stated that the materials are the first in a line of new PEI films based on the X GEN resin technology.

GE ADVANCED MATERIALS’ PUSH INTO GLOBAL ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTED BY NEW LEXAN® EXL RESINS FOR PORTABLE DEVICES

BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — Feb. 2, 2004 — In the 51st year since the discovery of LEXAN® polycarbonate (PC) by GE scientist Dr. Daniel W. Fox, GE Advanced Materials is once again expanding its product offerings based on this highly versatile resin technology. Two new grades of the company’s toughened LEXAN EXL polycarbonate/siloxane resin have been added to the growing resin portfolio: LEXAN EXL 9112 resin and LEXAN EXL 1434 resin. These products provide various levels of flame retardancy that help address eco-label needs along with high flow, broad chemical resistance, and enhanced weatherability. They are a potentially strong fit for use in portable electronics, converged devices, telecommunications, and handheld computer applications. The new materials join LEXAN EXL 9330 and LEXAN EXL 1414 resins, two previously introduced LEXAN EXL resin products.

GE ADVANCED MATERIALS BROADENS PORTFOLIO FOR ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY WITH NEW FLEXIBLE NORYL® RESIN FOR WIRE COATING

BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — Feb. 2, 2004 — GE Advanced Materials today introduced a new family of flexible NORYL® modified-polyphenylene ether (MPPE) resin as an alternative to polyvinyl chloride (PVC), flame-retarded polyethylene (FR-PE), and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) in wire-coating applications for the direct-current (DC) cord and plug segments of the consumer electronics industry. The new products –
NORYL WCD910 and NORYL WCP860 resins – have passed bending-strength tests by charger manufacturers, address eco-label flame-retardant application concerns, and, unlike PVC, contain no halogens, such as chlorine, which can break down into dioxins and toxic, highly acidic gasses when burned. The new GE resins also offer a lower specific gravity than FR-PE and TPU – weight reductions of 20 to 30 percent are achievable – as well as faster extrusion rates for potentially higher productivity and lower systems costs.

LNP DRIVES LEAD-FREE SOLDER PROCESSING FORWARD WITH NEW HIGH-HEAT, IR-SOLDERABLE FR CONNECTOR MATERIALS

BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — A range of new grades of high-heat connector materials introduced today by LNP Engineering Plastics have been specially designed to resist the thermal challenges of infrared (IR) reflow soldering, offer the shrinkage characteristics of widely used thermoplastic polyesters for easy drop-in replacement, and are formulated with a halogen-free, flame-retardant package that can be used in eco-label applications. These glass-reinforced grades – called THERMOCOMP® HT Solder composite and STARFLAM® composite – are positioned to replace lower-temperature materials used in lead-free solderable connector applications in the computer peripherals, telecommunications, and datacommunications industries.

GE ADVANCED MATERIALS REDEFINES WEATHERABLE RESIN PERFORMANCE WITH NEW OPAQUE, MOLDED-IN-COLOR PRODUCTS FOR INJECTION MOLDING

BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — GE Advanced Materials, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), today expanded its LEXAN® SLX weatherable copolymer resin line with two new opaque grades specifically designed for injection molding. The new materials – LEXAN SLX EXRL0124 and LEXAN SLX EXRL0125 resins – were developed to address environmental issues and costs associated with painting plastic parts in applications that require long-term retention of color and gloss in demanding outdoor use.

NEW CYCOLOY® CY8620 RESIN FROM GE ADVANCED MATERIALS BRINGS A HIGHER LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE TO AUTOMOTIVE INSTRUMENT PANELS

BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands – GE Advanced Materials, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), has launched CYCOLOY® CY8620 resin, adding a new and important grade to its family of CYCOLOY PC/ABS high-impact amorphous resins. Developed specifically for automotive interior applications, CYCOLOY CY8620 resin has a particular fit in instrument panel components, bringing a new level of performance over earlier generation materials.

GE ADVANCED MATERIALS DELIVERS NEXT STEP IN SOLUTIONS FOR AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING APPLICATIONS

BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — GE Advanced Materials, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), has introduced an array of new resin grades specifically designed to help bring higher performance benefits to automotive lighting applications.

AZDEL SUPERLITE® COMPOSITE GIVES SIGNIFICANT COST AND WEIGHT SAVINGS IN LOW VOLUME AUTOMOTIVE BONNETS/HOODS

BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — Feb. 2, 2004 — As the result of a joint development, GE Advanced Materials’ AZDEL SUPERLITE® composite will be used by BI Composites, a major UK automotive molder, to replace the steel in the bonnet/hood of a high-powered sports vehicle to be launched by a leading international carmaker in early 2004.

AZDEL SUPERLITE® COMPOSITE REDUCES WEIGHT AND ENHANCES PERFORMANCE IN AUTOMOTIVE INTERIORS

BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — Feb. 2, 2004 — Already achieving successes in automotive interior programs, which include headliner, sunshade, and parcel shelf applications in the U.S., Australia, and China, AZDEL SUPERLITE® composite is now being trialed by automotive OEMs in Europe.

NEW GE ADVANCED MATERIALS RESIN FOR RETORT PACKAGING TRAYS ENABLES OEMS TO INCREASE RACK/SURGE CAPACITY; REDUCE SYSTEMS COSTS, TRAY BREAKAGE

BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — A new thermoplastic alloy, designed for use in large retort packaging sterilization trays, offers OEMs the ability to increase rack/surge capacity for higher output, double service life, and lower systems costs, helping to improve productivity for food processors. Introduced today by
GE Advanced Materials, NORYL PPX® 615 resin – an alloy of polyphenylene ether (PPE) and polypropylene (PP) – is targeted at the large trays used to handle retort pouches during sterilization and conveyance due to its special balance of broad chemical resistance, excellent thermal and hydrolytic stability, and stiffness with ductility. The new material also offers good surface appearance, a wide processing window, and fast cycle times, all of which can help molders improve their bottom line.

XYLEX™ RESIN FROM GE ADVANCED MATERIALS FINDING INCREASED USE IN POOL AND SPA FILTERS, LIGHTING

BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — GE Advanced Materials, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), is seeing increased validation and use of its XYLEX™ X8210 and X8300 polycarbonate/polyester alloys for a variety of pool and spa applications. These resin grades are proving to be a great option for pool and spa accessories due to the materials’ transparency, good impact strength, weathering performance, and resistance to chemicals like Baquacil® and BaquaSpa® water conditioners, bromine, and chlorine. Both the XYLEX X8210 and X8300 resins are commercially available worldwide.

GE ADVANCED MATERIALS LAUNCHES ULTEM® GF ATX RESIN FAMILY AS AN ECONOMIC ALTERNATIVE TO GLASS FILLED PEI

BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands — GE Advanced Materials, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), has announced the extension of its ATX series of unfilled polyetherimide/polyestercarbonate ULTEM® resin blends. The series now includes glass-filled offerings that may provide a cost-competitive alternative to glass-filled PEI and high performance semi-crystalline materials. This resin family has design applicability for a broad range of electronics, telecommunications, and automotive components that require high flow and impact performance combined with the potential for substantially lower cost than glass-filled PEI.

GE PLASTICS INTRODUCES NEW “GAME CHANGING” WEATHERABLE GELOY® XTW RESIN FOR OUTDOOR APPLICATIONS

CHICAGO—June 23, 2003—GE Plastics, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), announced today the development of GELOY® XTW resin, a new weatherable ASA resin that withstands the punishing effects of UV exposure better than traditional ASAs in a variety of outdoor applications. Tests conducted by GE Plastics indicate GELOY XTW resin offers 3-to-5 times the color and gloss retention to extend the performance and aesthetics in large thermoforming sheet, building and construction, and automotive applications. GE Plastics will spotlight this innovative product in the GE Plastics’ booth at National Plastics Exposition in Chicago (McCormick Place, South Hall, Booth #2215) from June 23-27.

IDLEAIRE CHOOSES LEXAN® EXL RESIN TO WITHSTAND THE RIGORS OF THE HIGHWAY

CHICAGO—June 23, 2003—LEXAN® EXL resin, one of GE Plastics’ new resins in the X GEN™ resin portfolio of best-in-class performance materials, has been selected by IdleAire Technologies Corp. for applications serving the trucking market. The product is on display in the GE Plastics’ booth at the National Plastics Exposition in Chicago (McCormick Place, South Hall, Booth #2215) from June 23-27.

LEXAN® SLX RESIN NOW AVAILABLE FOR INJECTION MOLDING

CHICAGO—June 23, 2003—GE Plastics announced that one of its newest advanced polymers, LEXAN® SLX polycarbonate, is now available in a clear resin grade for injection molding applications. LEXAN SLX 2431 resin offers high light transmission (>83%) and low haze (<1%), enhanced weatherability and five to ten times the gloss retention compared with most standard UV stabilized polycarbonate materials. This new material and applications that use LEXAN® SLX film are on display in the GE Plastics’ booth at the National Plastics Exposition in Chicago (McCormick Place, South Hall, Booth #2215) from June 23-27.

FLEXPLAY INTRODUCES “EZ-D,” THE 48-HOUR DVD

CHICAGO—June 23, 2003—In May 2003, Flexplay Technologies, Inc, a privately held company based in New York, announced that Buena Vista Home Entertainment Division of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) will use its flexible play DVD technology to make movies available to consumers in test markets beginning this August. GE Plastics is featuring this new innovative application, which uses patented LEXAN material technology, in the GE Plastics’ booth at the National Plastics Exposition here (McCormick Place, South Hall, Booth #2215) from June 23-27.

Reader enquiries

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Helen Vandebovenkamp
helen.vandebovenkamp@ge.com

Tel: +31 164 29 20 97
Fax: +31 164 29 10 66
Netherlands

+31 164 29 20 97

helen.vandebovenkamp@​ge.com

www.geplastics.com