GE Plastics - Press Kit Plastpol Expo, Kielce/Poland
29 May - 1 June 2007

May 29, 2007 - GE Plastics today launched new high performance material solutions for a wide range of applications. These new material solutions are LNP X-Gen Starflam, Lexan Constant Clear Freezer Film and Noryl GTX.

GE Plastics’ LNP* X-Gen Starflam* Compounds Meet Today’s Eco Compliance Challenges with Tomorrow’s High-Tech Materials

BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — June 11, 2007 — GE Plastics today launched a new portfolio of high-tech LNP* Starflam* compounds that provide excellent flammability performance while meeting the requirements of halogen-free parts. The LNP X-Gen Starflam Z270 family of fiber-reinforced polyamides supports compliance with the European Union’s Waste Electrical and Electronics Equipment (WEEE), Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) regulations, and other environmental requirements. The new products offer high-end mechanical and electrical properties that exceed those of traditional materials that use brominated and red phosphorus additives, and provide easy processing, excellent surface appearance, and the ability to be laser marked for labeling purposes.

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.

GE Plastics’ ecomagination* Materials for Auto Body Panels Pump Up Excitement, Not Fuel Bills

BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — July 03, 2007 — GE Plastics today announced the company’s newest products to join the GE ecomagination* portfolio, offering the environmental and economic advantages of replacing traditional steel with Noryl GTX* resins in automotive body panels. Complementing recently launched ecomagination products including Xenoy iQ* and Valox iQ* resins, Noryl GTX resins not only reduce weight to help lower fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, but also are potentially recyclable. Further, they give designers greater creative latitude.

GE Plastics’ New Lexan* Constant Clear Freezer Film Helps Retailers Save on Energy Costs

BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — April 16, 2007 — GE Plastics has expanded its ecomagination* product portfolio with a new patent-pending, high-performance Lexan* polycarbonate (PC) film that can prevent condensation on the doors of refrigerated and frozen food glass door cases without the need to heat the glass. Crystal-clear Lexan Constant Clear film, featuring a proprietary anti-fog coating, adheres to glass doors to help prevent formation of condensation when the cases are opened by shoppers. Not only does Lexan Constant Clear film enhance the shopping experience by preventing fogging that can obscure product offerings, but it also delivers significant energy savings. By avoiding the need to heat glass doors, reducing the frequency of door openings to view products, lowering compressor loads required to compensate for heated doors - and based on the national average energy cost of $0.0942/KW-hr (according to www.eia.doe.gov) - this new film can save up to $90 per door, per year on ice cream and low temperature doors and $30 per door, per year on medium temperature doors.

GE’s New Lexan* SG305-OB Sheet Combines Uniform Illumination with Superior Optical Brightness for Eye-Catching Signage

BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — February 23, 2007 — GE Plastics has introduced a new grade of Lexan* polycarbonate (PC) sheet that is specifically designed to boost the visibility and attractiveness of illuminated signage. Lexan SG305-OB sheet, unlike conventional sheet products, offers both uniform light diffusion to eliminate light emitting diode (LED) “pinholes” and a view of light sources, and superior light transmission for exceptional optical brightness at lower energy costs. In fact, the 2mm and 5mm thicknesses of Lexan SG305-OB sheet boost light transmission to more than 50 percent, vs. competitive materials like polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) that allow only about 25 percent. The new white sheet grade, which has a matte finish on its outward-facing surface to reduce reflections, also provides excellent UV protection as well as the renowned impact resistance of tough, virtually unbreakable Lexan resin.

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.

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.

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.

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.

GE Helps Farm Fresh Shoppers See Clearly Inside Frozen Food Glass Door Cases While Reducing Energy Costs

Just about every grocery shopper has experienced the frustration of trying to see the contents of a fogged-up frozen food case. Stores have traditionally used door heaters to reduce the condensation that occurs when the freezer is opened, admitting warm air from the store. Farm Fresh, a high-end supermarket chain and division of SUPERVALU, found door heaters to be expensive in terms of energy costs, time-consuming to install and not particularly effective in preventing fogging. When GE Plastics approached Farm Fresh with a new anti-fog polycarbonate (PC) film for freezer doors, the company decided to test the technology at several of its 44 Virginia stores.

Euroll Chooses GE's New Lexan* Optical Bright Sheet for its ADDscreen® Roller to Turn Roll-Down Security Shutters into Advertising Billboards

GE's New Lexan* SG305-OB Sheet Provides Great Security & Hiding Power While Allowing Advertisements & Sign Graphics to be Rear-Projected onto the Sheet

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.

GE Plastics Helps GM's Advanced Design Studio Create Futuristic Glazing for the EcoJet Supercar

When talk-show host Jay Leno asked GM's Advanced Design Studio to create a mid-engine, turbine-powered supercar that would run on biodiesel, the designers knew they needed materials that were up to the challenge of this unique vehicle. Specifically, they required design freedom, high performance, exceptional aesthetics, and environmental responsibility. The EcoJet supercar, which borrowed design influences from jet aircraft and Formula One racecars, demanded glazing components with a futuristic flair. At the same time, the windows, windshield, and roofing panel had to enhance the overall intent to make the car environmentally progressive. To achieve all these objectives, the design team selected Lexan* GLX resin from GE Plastics.

GE Plastics Helps Hyundai’s QarmaQ ATDV Demonstrate Huge Potential for Environmentally Focused Technologies

With a commitment to bring more environmentally responsible technologies to the marketplace, plus enhance safety, Hyundai Motor Company sought a materials supplier that could help the company create an innovative Advanced Technology Demonstration Vehicle (ATDV). Hyundai wanted to achieve several goals: reduce part weight to lower fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions; achieve new design freedom for increased safety, comfort, and aesthetics; and consolidate parts to lower system cost and achieve additional weight reduction.

GE Helps Volvo Reduce Carbon Emissions Inside the S40 Sedan for a Cleaner, More Pleasant Cabin Climate

That traditional new-car smell – a signature aspect of a vehicle purchase – may not be such a good thing after all. Interior odors, caused by off-gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from plastics and other materials – can irritate some individuals. In addition, off-gassing of carbon can result in a film build-up of on the inside of the windshield. As part of its ongoing program to reduce interior emissions, Volvo Car Corporation sought new materials that could minimize odors in its S40 sedan.

GE Plastics Helps Nissan Sculpt Unique, Asymmetrical Glazing Shapes to Create the Bevel Concept Car

When Nissan Design America began designing its Bevel Concept car, the team recognized that traditional glass could not deliver the unusual glazing components they envisioned. The Bevel Concept, a utility vehicle that targets middle-age men with many hobbies and activities, features asymmetrical styling, a roof cargo system, and other unique glazing designs that were not possible to achieve with glass. In addition, because the car is designed to be environmentally responsible – for example, it features roof-mounted solar panels – Nissan wanted to find ways to reduce overall vehicle weight for fuel savings. As a longstanding GE Plastics customer, Nissan approached the plastics supplier to help identify a glazing solution.

GE Helps the SEAT Leon Project a Winning Attitude with an Unconventional Quarter Window Design

The Leon, manufactured in Spain by SEAT, a division of Volkswagen, is a young model that emphasizes unconventional styling. Although the car is a five-door hatchback, the aim was to make it appear sporty and more like a two-door coupe. To help achieve this effect, SEAT wanted to create a unique quarter window incorporating a recessed hand grip, instead of using a traditional rear door handle. However, this complex glazing application could not be fabricated in glass. A material offering design flexibility coupled with high impact resistance and crystal clarity was needed. To find the optimal solution, SEAT’s Tier 1 supplier, Freeglass, recommended GE Plastics.

Emerging Technology Delivers Conductivity Plus High Heat Performance for Successful Powder Coating of Plastic

Iain Montgomery
GE Plastics
Industry Manager – Coatings
BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS – Powder coating is a fast-growing technology due mainly to its environmental benefits, particularly the elimination of solvents and related compounds that are emitted into the air in conventional liquid paint. Powder coating has traditionally been used with metal substrates; however, the need for greater design freedom has led to industry demand for technologies suitable for plastic substrates.

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