GREAT LAKES ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL ADDITECH 2002 CONFERENCE

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana - April 19, 2002 - Great Lakes Chemical Corporation (NYSE:GLK) today announced the success of its ADDITECH 2002 Conference held on April 8th and 9th in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain.

Aimed at polymer producers in the Middle Eastern region, ADDITECH is an educational seminar covering new developments in the use and application of the materials and machinery used in the plastics industry. The event was organised by Gulf Stabilizers Industries (GSI), a joint venture between Great Lakes Chemical Corporation and the Al Zamil Group of Saudi Arabia, and co-sponsored by the manufacturers of complimentary additives and machinery for the polymer processing industry.

Nearly 70 representatives of the major polymer producers attended ADDITECH to hear presentations from Great Lakes Polymer Additives, Kobelco, Faci, Croda, Brabender and Sabic Research and Technology. Papers from Great Lakes included presentations on UV Stabilisers, Antioxidants and No Dust Blends of Polymer Stabilisers. Kobelco spoke to the audience about the ‘Evolution of Homogenizing / Pelletising Systems for Polyolefins’. Faci explained the ‘Different Grades of Calcium Stearate in Polypropylene’. Croda addressed the subject of ‘Slip Additives for Polymers’. Brabender discussed ‘Feeding and Control Systems for Bulk Solids in Process Technology’. And Sabic presented results on ‘LC Analysis of Multiple Extrusion Testing on New Additives in Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE)’.

The two-day conference was followed by a visit on April 10th to the GSI polymer stabiliser production plant in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia. The visit celebrated the start-up of the new antioxidant production unit where Anox™ 20 and Anox™ PP18 hindered phenolic antioxidants are now manufactured. These additives compliment a broad range of Anox™ NDB customised polymer stabiliser blends already manufactured at GSI in Al Jubail. Following completion of the facilities, it was announced that the GSI board of directors has approved a significant capacity expansion of Anox™ NDB production in order to meet the growing demand for customised additive blends in the region. The expansion is due for completion in early 2003.

Given the success of this first conference, ADDITECH will become a regular feature of the service GSI brings to its customers in the region.

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