Plastic Material News

Evonik Industries Responds To Strong Demand For Polyamide 12 By Expanding Laurolactam In Marl

May 31, 2010 - Evonik Industries plans to expand laurolactam production capacities significantly at its Marl site. The extra capacities are expected to be available by the fourth quarter of 2010. Laurolactam is the starting material for the polymer polyamide 12.

"We’re recording persistently high demand for our polyamide business,” explains Dr. Joachim Leluschko, the head of Evonik’s High Performance Polymers Business Line. "That’s why we’ll be further substantial expanding capacities for laurolactam production in Marl.” The move sees Evonik consolidating its globally leading position on the market for polyamide 12 and acting as a reliable partner to secure supplies to its customers into the future.
 
The High Performance Polymers Business Line markets polyamide 12 as VESTAMID®, an engineering material, and VESTOSINT® powder. It supplies these products to all key markets. At the core, what this business line does is manufacture products specially geared to demand and customer needs.

Rhodia Announces The Development of A New Polyamide High-Performance Composite Material

May 30, 2010 - Lyon, France - At a pre-show press conference held in Amsterdam on May 27, dealing with the K 2010 Plastics trade fair scheduled for later in the year, Rhodia unveiled its latest innovations including the announcement of the development of a new polyamide high-performance composite material.

A direct result of Rhodia’s ongoing innovation strategy, this material which complements its existing Technyl® line of injection, extrusion and blow molding products, represents a technological breakthrough in the area of thermoplastic composites. It is specifically designed for structural applications.

Using their vast expertise in polymer and formulation chemistry, Rhodia has developed a unique patented polyamide-based matrix, perfectly suited to continuous glass or carbon fiber composite materials.

The high fluidity and specifications of this new resin ensure that it fully penetrates and impregnates the reinforcing fibers. Thus, providing the optimal interface required to meet the performance standards required by the semi-finished products.

Available as pre-impregnated fabrics or plates, this new semi-finished product range surpasses existing thermoplastic composites in stiffness, strength, ageing and recyclability.

“With this new material – a remarkable technological breakthrough –, Rhodia is set to open up new fields of application for high-performance thermoplastic composites. Its advanced technical specification make it a real alternative solution, not only to metal and aluminum, but also to existing composites products” explains Vincent Lajotte, Marketing Director at Rhodia Engineering Plastics.

Structural or mechanical reinforcement parts can rapidly benefit from this technological breakthrough. This polyamide-matrix composite should also help to accelerate innovation in the transportation, construction and industrial markets.

Rhodiais an international chemical company resolutely committed to sustainable development. As a leader in its businesses, the Group aims to improve its customers’ performance through the pursuit of operational excellence and its ability to innovate. Structured around six Enterprises, Rhodia is the partner of major players in the automotive, electronics, flavors and fragrances, health, personal and home care markets, consumer goods and industrial markets. The Group employs around 13,600 people worldwide and generated sales of €4.03 billion in 2009. Rhodia is listed on Euronext Paris.

For more information, please visit our website www.rhodia.com

SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Revolutionary New Carbon-Fiber-Filled Ultem* Resin is 50% Lighter, 40% Stronger vs. Aluminum for Aircraft Interior Parts

May 27, 2010 - Hamburg,  Germany - Weight reduction for both fuel and systems cost savings remains a long-haul strategy for the airline industry, and has opened up another major development opportunity for SABIC Innovative Plastics and its customers. The company has created a new high-performance compound based on aerospace carbon fiber technology coupled with Ultem* polyetherimide (PEI) resin, creating a space-age solution to replace heavier airline-grade die-cast and machined aluminum for aircraft interiors components, slashing weight by up to 50 percent. Vaupell, a global contract manufacturer of custom injection-molded components and assemblies with 60 years of experience, is working with SABIC Innovative Plastics to validate the new Ultem resin materials in aircraft tray table arm components.

Vaupell’s tray table arms are on display at the SABIC Innovative Plastics Booth 7A48 in Hall B at the Aircraft Interiors Expo. These concept parts showcase the 50 percent weight savings and up to 40 percent improved strength of carbon-fiber-filled Ultem resin vs. die cast aluminum, and demonstrate how the company develops advanced, property-rich, sustainable materials to give aircraft customers a powerful competitive edge.

 

“Our new carbon-fiber-filled Ultem resin family is a great example of our strategy to further expand our premier technologies to solve our aircraft customers’ toughest challenges while giving them tremendous opportunities to grow their businesses,” said Cathleen Hess, global product director, SABIC Innovative Plastics. “Relationships with industry leaders such as Vaupell ensure that these materials meet the specific requirements of our customers and deliver measurable value. We’re taking another technological leap forward with these innovative new carbon-fiber-filled Ultem resins, to help global OEMs usher in a new era of cost-effective and lighter weight aircraft design.”

“Working closely with SABIC Innovative Plastics, we immediately saw the potential of carbon-fiber-filled Ultem resin to replace aluminum in interior aircraft applications,” said Mike Hamm, vice president, Sales, Vaupell. “It’s an outstanding product that delivers top performance and compliance with ever-tightening global standards for critical interior applications. Carbon-fiber-filled Ultem resin is a true industry game changing material that not only slashes part weight for greater fuel savings, but also offers a balance of other high-performance properties to meet aircraft industry demand for the best materials on the market for next-generation planes.”

Redefining Over Two Decades of Exceptional High-Performance
Building upon Ultem resin’s proven capabilities for aircraft interiors, carbon-fiber-filled Ultem resin complies with FAA flammability FAR 25.85, smoke density and heat release requirements for OSU 65/65. In addition to tray table arms, potential applications for the new carbon-fiber-filled Ultem grades include armrests, footrests and galley items such as coffee maker chassis. Vaupell will conduct further load capability testing and fatigue testing later this year.

SABIC Innovative Plastics has developed a family of carbon-fiber-filled Ultem resin technologies with varying fiber content to address specific demands for top-end performance properties. This initiative is the result of close collaboration between the company’s LNP* specialty compound and Ultem resin technology teams to deliver a solution that helps airlines meet the critical need to reduce weight, with the added bonus of up to 40 percent improved strength performance vs. aluminum. Aerospace grade carbon fibers provide outstanding tensile strength of 38.3 PSI vs. die cast aluminum grade 2024-0 (27 PSI) and machined (tempered) aluminum grade 7075-0 (33.1 PSI). Continuous long fibers provide exceptional stiffness and impact resistance.

The Ultem resin materials deliver better tensile performance and have approximately 50 percent lower specific gravity (SG) than aircraft-grade aluminum (2024-0:  2.78 SG; 7075-0:  2.81 SG; carbon-fiber-filled Ultem resin: 1.44 SG).

In addition to reducing the weight of aluminum, carbon-fiber-filled Ultem resin grades avoid the need for machining and other secondary processes, streamlining production and driving down total system costs. They also enable part consolidation to reduce points of failure and expand design freedom vs. metal. In processing, these resins provide double the flow, accelerating productivity and enabling thin-wall molded parts for even greater weight savings.

Injection molding is just one of the processing choices for these new Ultem resins; they are also suitable for extrusion into panels for galley storage and similar applications. Components can be powder coated, painted or plated.

For additional information on SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Ultem resins for aircraft applications, please go to www.sabic-ip.com.

For additional information on Vaupell, please go to www.vaupell.com

About SABIC Innovative Plastics
SABIC Innovative Plastics is a leading, global supplier of engineering thermoplastics with a 75-year history of breakthrough solutions that solve its customers’ most pressing challenges. Today, SABIC Innovative Plastics is a multi-billion-dollar company with operations in more than 35 countries and approximately 9,000 employees worldwide. The company continues to lead the plastics industry with customer collaboration and continued investments in new polymer technologies, global application development, process technologies, and environmentally responsible solutions that serve diverse markets such as automotive, electronics, building & construction, transportation, and healthcare. The company’s extensive product portfolio includes thermoplastic resins, coatings, specialty compounds, film, and sheet. SABIC Innovative Plastics (www.sabic-ip.com) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), one of the world’s top six petrochemicals manufacturers.

SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Versatile Lexan* Sheet Scores Big Win at South African FIFA World Cup Stadiums and Other Stadiums Around the World

May 27, 2010 - Bergen op Zoom,  The Netherlands -  Thousands of fans gathering at the FIFA World Cup™ 2010 matches, held from June 11 – July 11, 2010 in South Africa, are in for a brilliant new experience – courtesy of SABIC Innovative Plastics’ high-performance Lexan* polycarbonate (PC) sheet. Lexan Exell D* sheet, a lightweight, high-impact and UV-resistant monolithic material, was chosen to create the roofing, façades and stairway glazing for the stunning new Soccer City Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg, where this year’s opening and closing FIFA matches will be played. Lexan Exell D sheet was also selected for the building joints of the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, and Lexan Thermoclear* multiwall sheet was chosen for roof glazing at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane for the upcoming FIFA World Cup games. These amazingly tough, lightweight and transparent PC materials offer spectators an excellent viewing experience along with superior comfort, safety and aesthetics vs. traditional options like glass, and are the top choice of architects to create the world’s largest and most impressive structures. SABIC Innovative Plastics has long been a major player in the building & construction industry with a robust and growing portfolio of proven, sustainable, high-end products designed to help customers succeed.

 

The unique design of the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg was inspired by a calabash, a hollowed-out gourd used as a traditional African cooking pot. Durable Lexan Exell D sheet roofing, which represents boiling water flowing over the top of the pot and down the sides, protects up to 95,000 spectators from changing weather conditions. As glazing for the stadium’s stairways, Lexan Exell D sheet admits natural light for pleasant ambiance and safety. The SABIC Innovative Plastics’ sheet covers a total of 14,000 m2 (45,931 ft2).

“Today’s sports stadiums and arenas combine unique design concepts, with tough requirements for safety, weatherability and code compliance,” said Lennard Markestein, global marketing director, Specialty Film & Sheet, SABIC Innovative Plastics. “Lexan PC sheet delivers the clarity of glass without its drawbacks of weight and fragility, enabling award-winning and unique designs and a safe, satisfying experience for attendees. Our materials are playing a critical role in the construction of public buildings because they combine outstanding performance, environmental responsibility and aesthetics.”

Stadiums Around the World Feature Lexan Sheet
Lexan sheet products are the materials of choice for sports stadiums in many nations. For example, Lexan Thermoclear sheet was specified for more than 50 stadiums throughout the world, including the Sydney Olympic Stadium in Australia, Chongqing Olympic Stadium in China, and the UEFA European Football Championship Euro 2008™ and Euro 2004™ stadiums in Austria, Switzerland and Portugal.

Elegant Solutions for Complex Projects
Lexan Exell D monolithic sheet is a transparent PC sheet with proprietary UV protection on both sides, offering excellent weathering properties. It offers flame retardance that complies with the European fire standard EN 13501-1 for safety, and complies with glazing security impact resistance according to EN 356. Lexan Exell D sheet can be easily cold-formed into gentle curves, which makes it a good choice for skylights, covered walkways and barrel vaults. It is thermoformable into the desired geometry while retaining its UV-resistant coating. This material is backed by a 10-year limited written warranty against yellowing, loss of light transmission and breakage.

Lexan Thermoclear multiwall sheet products are a versatile thermoplastic glazing material that has been used in arena roofing and other glazing for more than 30 years and delivers a unique combination of advantages in roofing for large, complex structures. Compared to glass, Lexan Thermoclear sheet is significantly lighter in weight while offering high stiffness and more than 250 times the impact resistance to reduce the risk of breakage from wind, hail, and other extreme weather, as well as vandalism.

Lexan sheet glazing materials can help to deliver measurable return on investment through ease of installation; lower insurance costs due to weather damage; and less need for replacement due to UV degradation, weathering, and breakage.

For additional information on SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Lexan sheet products, please go to www.sabic-ip.com.

About SABIC Innovative Plastics
SABIC Innovative Plastics is a leading, global supplier of engineering thermoplastics with a 75-year history of breakthrough solutions that solve its customers’ most pressing challenges. Today, SABIC Innovative Plastics is a multi-billion-dollar company with operations in more than 35 countries and approximately 9,000 employees worldwide. The company continues to lead the plastics industry with customer collaboration and continued investments in new polymer technologies, global application development, process technologies, and environmentally responsible solutions that serve diverse markets such as automotive, electronics, building & construction, transportation, and healthcare. The company’s extensive product portfolio includes thermoplastic resins, coatings, specialty compounds, film, and sheet. SABIC Innovative Plastics (www.sabic-ip.com) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), one of the world’s top six petrochemicals manufacturers.

Borouge Signs an Agreement to Build Second Compounding Plant in China

May 28, 2010 - Borouge, a joint-venture between the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), one of the world's major oil companies, and Borealis, a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions, announced its intention to build a second manufacturing plant in China at the signing of an agreement with the Nansha Municipal Government on May 28, 2010.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Guangzhou,China, William Yau, CEO of Borouge’s Marketing Company said: “It is our intention to be a reliable supplier to the rapidly growing automotive and appliance industries in China and therefore we have decided to invest in a second compounding plant that produces tailor-made resins in close proximity to our customers.”

This announcement closely follows the inauguration of Borouge’s first compounding plant in Shanghai on April 20, 2010, and presents the opportunity for the company to strengthen its presence in China. Construction work on the plant is expected to be completed by the middle of 2012. Provision will be made to produce up to 105,000 tonnes of compounded polypropylene resins annually. The new compounding plant will also benefit from the Application Research and Development Centre being established in Shanghai and the Innovation Centre being built in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Borouge’s commitment to China is further underlined by the set of its Guangzhou office in the beginning of 2010, and its logistics hub located in the Nansha district of Guangzhou.

Borouge Awards Three Major EPC Contracts for Borouge 3 Expansion Project Valued at US$ 2.6 Billion

May 27, 2010 - Borouge, a joint-venture between the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), one of the world's major oil companies, and Borealis, a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions, has awarded three major Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts valued at approximately US$ 2.6 billion for its Borouge 3 expansion project in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi, in the UAE. These
significant investments will expand the production capacity of the plant to 4.5 million tonnes per year (t/y) by 2013, making it the largest integrated polyolefins site in the world.

A contract worth US$ 1,255 billion for the construction of two Borstar® enhanced polyethylene and two Borstar® enhanced polypropylene units, as well as a contract worth US$ 400 million for the construction of a 350,000 t/y low density polyethylene (LDPE) unit, was awarded to the Joint Venture consortium Tecnimont of Italy and Samsung Engineering of South Korea, on a lump sum turnkey basis. The annual capacity of the polyethylene units is 1,080,000 t/y and the polypropylene units, 960,000 t/y.

In addition, a contract worth US$ 935 million for the Utilities and Off-site facilities for the expanded plant was awarded to Hyundai Engineering and Construction of South Korea.

These contracts represent an important milestone in the fulfilment of Borouge’s growth strategy in the Middle East and Asia. The investment in LDPE production spearheads the Company’s ability to manufacture innovative solutions for the global wire and cable market in addition to the pipe, automotive and advanced
packaging markets.

Borouge has already awarded a US$1.075 billion contract to Linde Engineering for the construction of the Borouge 3 ethane cracker and the site preparation is being executed by Al Asab General Transportations and Contracting Establishment.

US$ 1.075 Billion Contract for Construction of Borouge 3 Ethane Cracker in Abu Dhabi Signed

May 27, 2010 - Borouge, a joint-venture between the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), one of the world's major oil companies, and Borealis, a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions, and The Linde Group, a world leading gases and engineering company, formally signed a US$ 1.075 billion contract for the construction of a 1.5 million tonnes per year (t/y) ethane cracker at Borouge’s production site in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi, in the UAE.

The signing ceremony took place at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi in the presence of H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Angela Merkel. The contract was signed by Abdulaziz Alhajri, CEO of Abu Dhabi Polymers (Borouge) and Professor Dr. Wolfgang Reitzle, Chief Executive Officer of Linde Group.

The new cracker, the third of its kind to be built by The Linde Group for Borouge in one decade,  complements the existing 600,000 t/y and planned 1.5 million t/y ethane crackers at the plant. After completion of the new cracker, Borouge will have the world’s largest ethane cracker complex, setting a new benchmark for the industry.

This investment is a major milestone in the company’s growth strategy in the infrastructure, automotive and advanced packaging markets in the Middle East and Asia, and an important step in the development of the Abu Dhabi petrochemicals landscape.

DME Adds Metric Sizes to Long-Lasting Black and Gold Interlocks Line

10 new sizes provide more options for specific applications

May 26, 2010 - Madison Heights, MI – DME Company has expanded its comprehensive line of mold components with the addition of Black and Gold Interlocks in metric sizes. These interlocks ensure accurate alignment and guidance of the mold halves during mold setup and throughout mold operation. Their melonite surface treatment improves wear and corrosion resistance for more positive alignment over the life of a mold.

DME offers four new metric sizes of top interlocks and six new metric sizes of side interlocks. As with all of DME's Black and Gold Interlocks, they feature industry-leading interchangeability. Instead of having to replace them in pairs as traditionally required, processors can replace each independently thanks to the precision manufacturing and tolerances in place. 

 

"Black and Gold Interlocks provide our customers with a better way to ensure consistent quality parts every time," said Bob Starr, Director of Marketing at DME Company. "Based on their feedback, we recognized the need to create metric sizes in addition to our existing versions, addressing a variety of key applications. By providing components like these, we're serving as an essential resource to our customers and helping them to produce quality product every step of the way."

The interlocks are known throughout the industry as "best-in-class." DME's global sourcing power allows for economical pricing while its stringent, worldwide quality standards ensure a consistently high-quality product, and they cost 25 percent less than the competition.

"The quality of our products is importance to us," Starr said. "Our customers don't have time to wait for replacement parts. It's these high standards that guarantee customers the absolute best quality."

DME's Black and Gold Side Interlocks work with a variety of mold bases including its Quick Delivery Standards (QDS), an innovative proven product line that allows customers to choose from more than 3,800 popular mold base combinations as well as comparably sized retainer sets and mold plates. Customers ordering mold bases can also request to have the interlocks installed by DME prior to shipping.

DME Company is an essential mold technologies resource to customers worldwide. Through aggressive new product development, global product standardization and a powerful combination of in-house manufacturing centers of excellence and strategic global partnerships, DME is helping customers succeed in changing times. The company's standard-setting, comprehensive product line — including hot runner systems; control systems; mold bases and components; mold making and molding supplies; and cold runner systems for elastomers — is backed by expert technical service every step of the way. DME also manufactures and sells standard tooling for the die-casting industry. Visit www.dme.net for more information.

NatureWorks LLC Names U.S. Pacific Nonwovens Exclusive Agent for Ingeo™ Spun-Melt Applications in the Asia Pacific Region

Five industry leaders share latest Ingeo™ developments at Dallas Innovation Takes Root Conference

May 26, 2010 - Minnetonka, MN - NatureWorks LLC has selected U.S. Pacific Nonwovens Industry, Ltd. as the exclusive agent for Ingeo™ spun-melt (spun-bond and melt-blown) nonwovens in the Asia Pacific Region.
The new relationship between NatureWorks, the manufacturer of Ingeo™ biopolymer, made from plants, not oil, and U.S. Pacific was announced in April at the international biopolymers conference, “Innovation Takes Root 2010,” in Dallas. The conference, organized by NatureWorks, also featured announcements about several additional advances with Ingeo™ in fibers and nonwovens.

U.S. Pacific Nonwovens Chief Technology Officer Dr. Larry Wadsworth said, “We see huge potential for readily substituting Ingeo™ for PET on many spun-bond lines in China and other countries in Asia.”

The new commercial relationship is a natural one, as U.S. Pacific Nonwovens is also the exclusive agent for Biax-Fiberfilm for stand-alone Biax melt-blown lines in the Asia Pacific Region. Biax President, Doug Brown recently said his firm has demonstrated significant capability with Ingeo™ processing on its melt-blown lines.

Dr. Wadsworth laid the groundwork for the U.S. Pacific Nonwovens announcement during his presentation at the “Innovation Takes Root, Advances in Ingeo™ Fibers and Nonwovens” conference track. Wadsworth presented the results of USDA-funded research on biodegradable mulches for crops produced under protective covers, which included an assessment of next-generation nonwovens including Ingeo™. He concluded with new results based on work done at Biax-Fiberfilm and U.S. Pacific in China on the blending of Ingeo™ with PHA’s to produce melt-blown wet wipes fabric not only with improved shelf-life in the package, but also with enhanced biodegradation in river water, mud, and compost.

Ray Volpe, technology director for Ahlstrom Advanced Nonwovens business area, also shared new details of Ahlstrom’s Ingeo™ based BioWeb™ spun-bond nonwoven product line. Noting that BioWeb™ is now available in a range of basic weights, Volpe attracted strong interest when he compared BioWeb™ and polypropylene webs. With tensile strength, dye ability, and surface energy equivalent to, or better than PP, BioWeb™ offers improved cuttability, stain release, and flammability/heat/smoke characteristics, while lowering web elongations. With the 2009 announcement of its new Chirnside UK spun-bond line, Ahlstrom made it clear that its immediate intent is to target beverage infusion applications such as tea bags. In Dallas, however, Volpe also emphasized that Ahlstrom’s interest in BioWeb™ renewable nonwovens is broad, covering a wide variety of end-use applications including topsheet/backsheet for diapers, plant-root protection, and soft furnishings.

Rounding out the Ingeo™ nonwovens discussion, Dr. Gajanan Bhat of the University of Tennessee – Knoxville’s Nonwovens Research Lab reviewed Ingeo™ melt-blown nonwovens for filtration applications. Bhat included a detailed review of Ingeo™ melt-blowing process parameters, process variables, and response factors for nonwovens, property characterizations that are important to the filtration industry. With research that underpinned Wadsworth’s earlier points, Bhat showed that Ingeo™ can be melt-blown to produce fine fiber webs with good mechanical and performance properties.

Goulston Technologies’, Chris Hagler described the company’s latest advances in Ingeo™ fiber surface modification for fibers and nonwovens, emphasizing Goulston’s core strength in tailoring the finish chemistry to meet the specific application demand. Goulston now has a formal relationship with Polyvel, which has been a long-time provider of additives for a wide variety of Ingeo™ packaging applications.

Fiber Innovation Technology co-founder, Dr. Jeff Dugan, described his organization’s long relationship with NatureWorks since it became the first Ingeo™ fibers master licensee partner in 2003. Fiber Innovation Technology has extensive experience with and knowledge of Ingeo™ fibers and processing, and Dugan shared the latest innovations and ongoing work on producing Ingeo™ (PLA/PLA) binder fibers with significantly improved bond strength. 

The fibers and nonwovens conference track was moderated by Robert Green, NatureWorks’ business director for Ingeo™ fibers and nonwovens. Green said, “In addition to the individual advances shared in Dallas, an overarching takeaway from the session is that there is now increasing momentum throughout the supply chain in terms of the technology and expertise required to process Ingeo™ fibers and nonwovens.”

Those interested in any of the technical and business presentations given at the “Innovation Takes Root” conference may email NatureWorks for details. Information on the program and speakers can be found at www.innovationtakesroot.com. NatureWorks website www.natureworksllc.com offers extensive information on Ingeo™ – visitors can also sign up for the Ingeo™ e-newsletter, and download the latest LookBook of new Ingeo™-based products.

Borealis and Borouge - Creating New Horizons at K 2010

May 26, 2010 - Cutting-edge innovations, significant investments and a dedication to sustainability will be central to Borealis’ and Borouge’s presence at K 2010 in Düsseldorf from October 27 – November 3. Built around the theme of “Creating New Horizons – Capability, Commitment, Care”, Borealis and Borouge will showcase their strong capabilities, committed and caring approach, and optimism for the future.

Borealis and Borouge are among the world’s largest players in the plastics industry. Backed by their financially stable and committed owners, the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) and OMV for Borealis and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) as Borealis’ joint-venture partner for Borouge,
they are working together in partnership to provide customers with global access to pioneering technologies, excellent service and innovative products across a wide range of markets and application areas.

Visitors to K 2010 can look forward to recent examples of Borealis and Borouge:

• Capability to offer customers the right products and services when and where they are needed through an expanding worldwide presence and investment in production and logistics facilities.
• • Completion of the Borouge 2 petrochemical complex at Ruwais, Abu Dhabi inmid-2010 will triple Borouge’s annual capacity to 2 million tonnes of polyolefins.
  • Addition of Borouge 3, currently under construction, will expand this annualcapacity to 4.5 million tonnes by the end of 2013.
  • EUR 400 million expansion of its production facilities in Stenungsund, Sweden will be inaugurated in June 2010.

• Commitment to innovation leadership.
• • Following the completion of its EUR 50 million Innovation Headquarters in Linz, Austria in 2009, Borealis has earmarked an additional EUR 75 million for investment in innovation capabilities.
  • Borouge started construction of its new Innovation Centre in Abu Dhabi in April 2010.
  • Advances for the packaging, healthcare, automotive, and infrastructure sectors, based on a broad range of technologies, will be among the latest polyolefin innovations.

• Care towards employees and in bringing sustainable innovations to the market.Borealis and Borouge’s commitment to preserving the environments in which they operate is reflected both in business practices and in their approach to innovation.
• • Materials can be recycled, generate less waste and offer energy-saving, CO2-reducing benefits up to the final end product.
  • The pioneering Water for the World™ programme contributes to conserving the Earth’s most valuable resource and addresses the global challenge of securing fresh water and proper sanitation for the world community.
  • Borealis and Borouge have defined and implemented measures to improve their own environmental performance. Initiatives include a 14% reduction in CO2 emissions related to Borealis’ production since 2000; 1/3 reduction in Borealis’ production waste since 2000; a group-wide target of 20% improvement in energy efficiency by 2020.

“K2010 presents a valuable opportunity to get in close contact to our customers world-wide. It supports the continuous dialogue that is crucial to Borealis’ and Borouge’s strategy of value creation through innovation to create the new horizons that form the backbone to success for us all,” comments Lorenzo Delorenzi,
Borealis Executive Vice President Polyolefins. “Our products and services have the quality and inherent capability to deliver value throughout the chain. By combining strong capabilities with our caring, committed approach to bringing the latest, sustainable innovations to the market, we can answer some of the world’s greatest challenges, offer customers new opportunities for differentiation and drive a more sustainable future for society.”

“Borouge is currently tripling its annual manufacturing capacity of polyethylene and polypropylene to two million tonnes, thereby laying the foundations to be a major supplier of innovative plastics solutions to the Middle East and Asian plastics industry”, says Gilles Rochas, Borouge Vice President for Film & Moulding. “With the high growth rates of these markets and an increasing number of converters from this region visiting the K Fair in Germany, we will be present to further develop partnerships with our customers. In addition to increasing our production capacity, we are investing in our sales and marketing organisation, innovation capability and supply chain infrastructure, paving the way to be an innovative, responsive and
reliable supplier for the future.”

For the triennial event, Borealis and Borouge will be joined for the first time by NOVA Chemicals, a leading producer of plastics and chemicals that make everyday life safer, healthier and easier. Together, the three independent companies under the ownership of ADNOC, IPIC and OMV will share a stand in hall 6 at stand A43.