Milestones: With a Rich Legacy of Materials Expertise, SABIC Innovative Plastics Continues to Drive Automotive Innovation Worldwide

SABIC Innovative Plastics continues to set standards for high-performance automotive polymers. Beginning in 1958 with the introduction of Lexan* resin, SABIC Innovative Plastics continues a tradition of developing advanced automotive materials, while delivering world-class technical support and unparalleled customer service.

A brief chronology of SABIC Innovative Plastics’ legacy of major automotive milestones follows:

1893: Thomas Edison experiments with plastics filaments for light bulbs.

1890s: Thomas Edison experiments with the electrification of automobiles.

1930: Company’s first official plastics department is formed.

1958: Lexan resin is introduced as a new commercial product.

1964: Noryl* modified PPO resin is introduced to provide automotive OEMs with a lightweight, ecologically optimized, high-performance alternative to metal for auto interiors and body panels.

1969: Lexan resin first used for taillights and indicator lenses on European sports cars.

1971: The Valox* family of resins is introduced.

1982: High-heat resistant Ultem* resin for headlamp reflectors is introduced.

1983: The first bumper fascia in Xenoy* resin is launched on the Opel™ Manta™ GTE in Europe.

1988: 1989 GM Cadillac™ “C” Deville™ & Fleetwood™ win Society of Plastics Engineers Grand Award for Noryl GTX* front fenders.

1988: The first vehicle using the company’s thermoplastic material for all “vertical” body panels (front and rear bumper fascias, front fenders, doors, and rear quarter panels) is launched on the BMW™ Z1 roadster.

1989: The Vector concept vehicles launched in Geneva, Switzerland

1992: Chrysler™ instrument panel system wins Grand Award for 1993 LH Platform for Azdel, Noryl.

1992: Pininfarina Ethos concept vehicle launched at Turin Motor Show

1994: Society of Plastics Engineers honors the company with Hall of Fame award for clear polycarbonate lenses in headlamp assemblies for Ford Motor Company.

1994: The first production polycarbonate roof glazing is launched with Lexan resin on the targa roof of the GM Corvette™ C6.

1998: Society of Plastics Engineers honors the first free-form complex reflector made from Ultem Resin.

1998: First place in the "Exterior Body" category is awarded to the company and Dynamit Nobel Kunststoff for the Micro Compact Car (later known as the smart™ car) by the Society of Plastics Engineers (Europe).

2000: Cadillac Plastic and Commercial Plastics and Supply are acquired.

2002: LNP* Engineering Plastics, adding compounding technology to its family of customer solutions, is purchased.

2002: Weatherable Lexan SLX* film for paint elimination is introduced.

2003: Society of Plastics Engineers honors Lexan SLX film on the DaimlerChrysler smart Roadster roof module.

2004: Society of Plastics Engineers honors SABIC Innovative Plastics with Hall of Fame Award for Xenoy resin bumper box beam for Ford Motor Company.

2005: The first global ecomagination* campaign for the environment spotlighting Flexible Noryl resin for Wire Coating and Lexan SLX film for paint replacement is launched.

2005: Automotive windows molded from Lexan polycarbonate resin and coated with Exatec900™ were cleared for use in "driver visibility applications" (as long as they pass tests listed in the "AS-2" specification) by the US Department of Transportation's National Highway Transportation Highway Safety Authority (NHTSA).

2006: Valox iQ* and Xenoy iQ* ecomagination family of resins launched globally to address three critical environmental concerns for auto manufacturers: conserving energy, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing post-consumer waste.

2006: First Annual PLASTicon design competition launched with Royal College of Art.

2006: Society of Plastics Engineers Europe honors Lexan SLX film on the Opel™ Zafira™.

2006: Extem* resin line launched for exceptional thermal, chemical, and mechanical performance in extreme environments for applications such as powertrain.

2007: Chevrolet™ Volt™, Hyundai™ QarmaQ™, Nissan™ Bevel™, and Opel Flextreme™ concept vehicles make world premieres showcasing lightweight material technologies featuring Lexan GLX glazing.

2007: Automotive division receives the 2007 Frost & Sullivan North American Technology Leadership Award in advanced automotive design for groundbreaking leadership in developing lightweight and environmentally progressive plastic materials on the Chevrolet Volt and the Hyundai QarmaQ.

2007: SABIC Innovative Plastics acquires EXATEC, LLC as wholly owned subsidiary.

* Trademarks of SABIC Innovative Plastics IP BV.

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