14 Oct 2003
GE PLASTICS BROADENS VISUALfx™ RESINS PORTFOLIO WITH BLACK AND WHITE EFFECTS
--New Resins Enable Industrial Designers to Push the Boundaries of Design--
BERGEN OP ZOOM—June 23, 2003—Black and white may seem like primary colors to the general populace, but in the exclusive world of product designers these colors are the next “hot” trend. According to a 2003 color and effects guide developed for GE Plastics by design and strategy consultancy Polymer Solutions Inc., a joint venture between industry design giant Fitch Richardson Smith, Inc., and GE, black and white -- plus all the variations on each -- will be a key consumer product design element over the next year. Responding to this trend, GE Plastics unveiled a new dark and light palette for its Visualfx™ resin portfolio that includes new Earth Elements, Glacial Elements, Alliage™ resin effect and Tempulse™ resin effect.
“The 2003 effects guide is developed based on consumer trend research and feedback from manufacturers and designers,” said Andrew Day, GE Plastics’ Americas industry manager for global aesthetics. “It embodies consumer desires and provides insights into what the new trends will be and what aesthetic elements manufacturers and designers will adopt.”
“Our new Visualfx resin offerings are formulated to enhance the rich look of products and applications in the business equipment and telecom markets. In today’s world where companies are always seeking ways to differentiate their products, this innovative new collection of thermoplastics is designed to inspire industrial designers to envision ways to push their design further and increase brand equity,” said Edward Martin, market director, consumer electronics portables and displays, GE Plastics.
The new Black and White portfolio of effects includes:
• The Earth Elements line:
- Raven™ resin effect: Available in LEXAN® polycarbonate resin, Raven resembles a true piano-key black giving the product a rich, glossy black with the depth of deep lacquer.
- Dark Sparkle effect: Available in CYCOLOY® ABS/PC resin, Dark Sparkle helps add a visual of punch with subtle highlights suspended in dark, rich earth-tones.
- Dark Marble effect: Available in CYCOLOY ABS/PC resin, Dark Marble creates a black-on-black duotone effect with dark and earthy hues revealing a more natural look to the application.
• The Glacial Elements line includes:
- Alpine™ resin effect: Available in a CYCOLOY ABS/PC resin, Alpine is in simple, clean, crisp white providing boldness and elegance to the applications.
- White Sparkle effect: Available in a CYCOLOY ABS/PC resin, White Sparkle offers a white-on-white feel adding another dimension.
- White Stone effect: Available in a CYCOLOY ABS/PC resin, White Stone gives products a polished granite feel with more white and black particles giving subtle emphasis.
This new collection of effects also includes Alliage resin effect and Tempulse resin effect. Available in CYCOLAC® ABS resin, Alliage is a versatile metallic effect that offers three-dimensionality in a wide color range.
Tempulse is an enhanced sparkle effect offering a sense of dimension and depth to the product. Available in CYCOLOY ABS/PC resin, Tempulse adds gleam and vivacity to both high-gloss and textured surfaces.
“Colors and effects are important factors for new product design as they can add a whole new realm of dimension that directly impacts consumer purchase behavior,” said Robert Butterfield, director of Polymer Solutions, Inc.
All of GE Plastics’ Visualfx resins are formulated with the color and effect inherent in the pellet to create colorful and exceptionally rich looking parts out of the mold without the need of what can often be costly secondary paint and coating operations. Additionally, several of these Visualfx resins are also available in film for use in in-mold decoration applications to achieve unique multi-layer effects and flow line free appearance.
GE Plastics recently developed a new website www.geaesthetics.com designed to help facilitate manufacturers and designers to explore various effects for use in their engineering thermoplastics applications. Through this website, OEMs and designers can obtain information on Vi
Reader enquiries
GE PlasticsPlasticslaan 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
Notes for editors
About GE Plastics
GE Plastics is a leading producer of engineered thermoplastics with major production facilities worldwide. GE Plastics materials, including LEXAN® polycarbonate, are used in a wide variety of applications such as CDs and DVDs, automobile parts, computer housings, cookware, outdoor signage, cell phones, bullet-resistant shielding and building materials. Through its LNP Engineering Plastics business, the company is a worldwide leader in the custom compounding of engineering thermoplastics.
GE Plastics is also a global distributor of sheet, film, rod and tube products through GE Polymershapes and GE Structured Products. In 2003, GE Plastics is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of LEXAN polycarbonate, discovered in 1953 by GE chemist Dr. Daniel W. Fox. The company's web site is located at www.geplastics.com, and to learn more about LEXAN visit www.gelexan.com.
LEXAN, CYCOLOY, CYCOLAC and ColorXpress are registered trademarks of General Electric Company.
Visualfx, Raven, Alpine, Alliage and Tempulse are trademarks of General Electric Company.
