27 Jul 2004

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

INDUSTRY’S FIRST GEAR PACKAGE HELPS SIMPLIFY MATERIALS SELECTION, DESIGN SPECIFICATION FOR GEARS, OTHER MOVING PARTS SUBJECT TO FRICTION, WEAR

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.

Appropriate for both new and experienced gear designers in sectors as diverse as consumer electronics, automotive, power tools, appliance, document handling, and industrial, the LNP gear package is the first of its kind to be offered by a plastics compound supplier.

The new gear package is immediately accessible via an Internet-based, on-demand eSeminar with audio and visual input. The seminar is accessible 24/7, free of charge and is currently available in three languages, as follows:

English: http://www.sea.geplastics.com/resins/promotions/gears/gears.htm;

Once online, gear designers can link to information on GE's broad family of LNP thermoplastic compounds and support services at LNP Portfolio Overview. Other links – Online Design and Engineering Tools – provide users with the information to help create effective results rapidly with minimal effort. A GE design team, trained in the demanding requirements of gearing, is also available to provide advice on materials and troubleshooting support.

“GE’s new gear package is designed to meet specific critical-to-quality criteria, such as low wear, low noise, tolerance, durability, operating temperature, chemical resistance, agency requirements, and more,” explains Kazuya Iwamoto, industry manager, Components, GE Advanced Materials.

“Our gear team can also draw on 50 years of plastic-wear data in gearing applications and is not limited just to the materials we offer through our new gear package,” said David Ngiam, product manager, LUBRICOMP Composites, GE Advanced Materials. “We can access any technology that in the GE family, which represents one of the broadest portfolios of materials in the global plastics and compounding industries.”

Plastics have gradually replaced metals in a wide variety of gear applications, gaining respect in the design community as a major alternative to traditional materials by offering unique performance benefits metals can’t provide. Three major trends currently are pushing plastic-gear performance toward higher-performing, harder-working families of materials and opening new possibilities for the unique polymer solutions that GE Advanced Materials can provide. These include:

Noise Reduction – Noise in gear applications can generally be reduced by using noise-dampening grades of plastics. Specifying lubricated grades that can hold tight tolerances can eliminate noise caused by poor gear alignment. Acoustic noise from vibration can often be addressed by using lubricated, tight-tolerance compounds and resins;

Process Cost-Out – Eliminating grease and using durable, lubricated resins reduces maintenance costs and ensures cleaner operations. Eliminating metal firewall covers by specifying flame-retardant materials can reduce parts and assembly costs, as well as component size and weight. Reducing materials usage by specifying stronger, reinforced materials capable of performing in thinner wall sections can also cut costs, weight, and stack tolerances; and

Design Flexibility – Plastics and plastic compounds can increase design flexibility vs. traditional materials. When used in compact, high-performance designs, they can allow for weight and space savings while ensuring durability. The thermal management properties that plastics and plastic compounds can provide can help extend the operating range of the device. These products can also address various eco-label concerns, making it easier to specify a material globally for greater sourcing and manufacturing f

Reader enquiries

GE Plastics
Plasticslaan 1
4600 AC Bergen op Zoom
Netherlands

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

Notes for editors

GE Advanced Materials

GE Advanced Materials is a world leader in providing materials solutions through engineering thermoplastics, silicon-based products and technology platforms, and fused quartz and ceramics. Among its businesses are:

• Plastics is a global plastics materials supplier and distributor, which serves customers in a variety of industries including aerospace, appliances, automotive, building and construction, data storage and optical media, medical, electrical and electronics devices, telecommunications, computers and peripheral devices, outdoor vehicles and devices, and packaging (https://www.geplastics.com).

• Silicones, which includes GE Toshiba Silicones in the Pacific region and GE Bayer Silicones in Europe, offers silanes, specialty silicones, urethane additives, adhesives, sealants, resins, and elastomers for a variety of industries such as personal care, automotive, tire and rubber, construction, healthcare, electronics, household and institutional, agriculture, textiles, appliances, bedding and furnishings, foam control, and consumer (https://www.gesilicones.com).

• Quartz provides high-purity quartz and advanced ceramic materials for the semiconductor, telecommunications, lighting, electronics, personal care, water purification, and various other industries (https://www.gequartz.com).

• GE (NYSE:GE) is a diversified technology, media, and financial services company dedicated to creating products that make life better. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, television programming, and plastics, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's website at https://www.ge.com.

LUBRICOMP, LUBRILOY, FULTON, and ULTEM are registered trademarks of

General Electric Company.

Related images

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.