31 Mar 2006

GE Plastics Presents $25,000 to the Eindhoven University of Technology for Polymer Research

BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — March 31, 2006 — In a ceremony at the TU/e on March 29, GE Plastics presented a donation of $25,000 to Prof. Dr. Piet Lemstra, senior professor for the Laboratory of Polymer Technology (SKT) in the Department for Chemical Engineering and Chemistry. The donation was presented on behalf of Dr. Theo Hoeks, principal scientist at GE Plastics in Bergen op Zoom, and a winner of GE’s prestigious Edison Award in 2005.

The donation will be used by the Laboratory of Polymer Technology to invest in new equipment and upgrade existing equipment, enabling the further study of material properties.

Each year, GE honors technologists across the company with the prestigious Edison Award, named after one of the company’s founders and one of history's most prolific innovators. The awards are presented to individuals for recent technical contributions that have made a significant impact on the current and future vitality of their businesses. Recipients each receive a $25,000 grant to fund research at a university of their choice.

GE’s Theo Hoeks, who has been a visiting scientist at TU/e since last October, received the award for his invention of an anti-static Lexan* resin that is the basis for the GE Imagination Breakthrough, GE Illuminex* diffuser films, and other high value applications. The anti-static Lexan resin provides the lowest dust attraction in the product portfolio, while maintaining the other Lexan resin qualities valued by customers like transparency and excellent heat resistance. He also developed two new Lexan resin grades for automotive lighting allowing for improvement in the balance of flow and heat resistance previously available, while permitting faster cycle times and higher productivity. Additionally, Theo co-developed the improved Lexan SLX material that may eliminate the need for the costly, separate UV coating process. The new Lexan SLX resin combines high light transmission, with high heat, impact and colorability and is a unique and protected product for GE. Theo is the co-inventor of more than 25 GE patents and has over 15 years experience in the Technology department at GE Plastics.

“It is really rewarding that through my work at GE Plastics I am able to give something back to research and the educational community. I hope that with this donation we can help create opportunities for today’s student to put theory into practice by working on exciting new research projects,” Theo Hoeks commented.

The ceremony was attended by GE Plastic representatives including Dr. Ir. Willem Sederel, Global Technology Leader, Lexan; Dr. Ir. Jos van Gisbergen, Technology Manager and Dr. Theo Hoeks. Ir. Harry Roumen, Secretary General TU/e attended on behalf of the university, together with senior researcher for the Polymer Technology department, Dr. Han Goossens and head of the department Prof. Dr. Piet Lemstra.

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Helen Vandebovenkamp
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Fax: +31 164 29 10 66
Netherlands

+31 164 29 20 97

helen.vandebovenkamp@ge.com

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Notes for editors

About GE Plastics

GE Plastics is a global supplier of plastic resins widely used in automotive, healthcare, consumer electronics, transportation, performance packaging, building & construction, telecommunications, and optical media applications.

The company manufactures and compounds polycarbonate, ABS, SAN, ASA, PPE, PC/ABS, PBT and PEI resins, as well as the LNP* line of high-performance specialty compounds. GE Plastics, Specialty Film & Sheet manufactures high-performance Lexan* sheet and film products used in thousands of demanding applications worldwide. In addition, GE Plastics’ dedicated Automotive organization is an experienced, world-wide competitor, offering leading plastics solutions for five key automotive segments: body panels and glazing; under the hood applications; component; structures and interiors; and lighting. As a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Games, GE is the exclusive provider of a wide range of innovative products and services that are integral to a successful Games.

* Lexan, Illuminex, and LNP are trademarks of General Electric Company.

Related images

GE's donation to the Eindhoven University of Technology for Polymer Research

In a ceremony at the TU/e on March 29, GE Plastics presented a donation of $25,000 to Prof. Dr. Piet Lemstra, senior professor for the Laboratory of Polymer Technology (SKT) in the Department for Chemical Engineering and Chemistry. From left to right: Prof. Dr. Piet Lemstra, head of the department of TU/e; Dr. Ir. Willem Sederel, Global Technology Leader Lexan GE Plastics; Ir. Harry Roumen, Secretary General TU/e, and Dr. Theo Hoeks, principal scientist at GE Plastics.

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