GE Plastics Expands Manufacturing Capability for EMI Shielding Materials into the Pacific Region

BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — April 24, 2007 — GE Plastics today announced it has expanded its production of LNP* Faradex* compounds, which provide inherent electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, to the Pacific region. The compounds, including a new environmentally responsible grade that features a non-brominated, non-chlorinated flame retardant, are being manufactured at GE Plastics’ Moka facility in Japan. GE’s LNP Faradex materials will help local and global manufacturers meet electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) regulatory requirements by providing a highly effective EMI shielding solution that can lower part weight and reduce system costs. Additionally, by using a non-brominated, non-chlorinated flame retardant system, LNP Faradex compound can help manufacturers curtail the use of hazardous substances in electronics.

“GE Plastics is continuing to invest in our Pacific facilities to meet growing demand from electronics OEMs and suppliers for high-performance components that comply with stringent regulatory requirements,” said Hiroshi Yoshida, global market director for Electronics, GE Plastics. “By producing LNP Faradex compounds in Asia, we can supply our customers more quickly and offer local technical resources for application development, testing, and process optimization. We will continue to develop additional grades of Faradex compounds as EMC requirements evolve and new electronics device requirements emerge.”

GE Plastics recently launched the new LNP Faradex NS0031 grade, which is based on a blend of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (PC/ABS). This product is produced in Moka, Japan and is available globally. It provides flame retardance without the use of brominated or chlorinated additives that are restricted by legislation in Japan, Europe, and other areas. All Faradex compounds feature stainless steel fibers to provide intrinsic EMI shielding, avoiding the need for a separate vacuum metallization layer that can add time and cost. For example, chromium plating can require up to a dozen steps, compared to a single processing operation for the new GE material.

LNP Faradex compounds offer performance and processing that are similar to that of their unfilled base resins, which includes PC, ABS, polypropylene, and polyamide 6, as well as the new PC/ABS blend. Applications for this material include consumer electronics such as digital cameras and portable DVD players.

GE Plastics’ Moka facility also houses an Application Technology Center. In addition to electronics material technologies, the facility specializes in automotive pedestrian safety, auto wiring, and under-hood vehicle applications.

For more information on GE’s LNP Faradex compounds, please visit the GE Plastics’ website at www.geplastics.com.

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Helen Vandebovenkamp
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Tel: +31 164 29 20 97
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Netherlands

+31 164 29 20 97

helen.vandebovenkamp@​ge.com

www.geplastics.com