October 29, 2010 - Dusseldorf- Germany - Chery Automobile’s soon to be launched new A3CC sports coupe using SABIC Innovative Plastics’ advanced materials solutions – is highlighted at K 2010 in SABIC’s stand – Hall 6, Stand D42. The sleek new sports car delivers high-end style and practical performance with the first Noryl GTX* resin front fenders used by a Chinese automotive OEM; a fuel filler door, also molded from Noryl GTX resin; light weight front and rear energy absorbers made from Xenoy* resin; and an undertray, molded from Stamax® long glass-filled polypropylene (LGFPP) compound. These multiple applications on the vehicle illustrate SABIC Innovative Plastics’ breadth of materials technology expertise and demonstrate the environmental and performance benefits of its plastics for world-class auto motive design with broad appeal.
“Our five-year collaboration with Chery on the A3CC was clearly a success and showcases the innovative nature of Chery and their design of a new vehicle with high-performance plastics,” said Gregory A. Adams, vice president, Automotive, SABIC Innovative Plastics. “Our diverse and growing portfolio of resins enabled Chery’s designers to create this exciting new convertible with plastic materials used in applications ranging from Class A fenders to structural components, and supports the company’s goal of ultimately competing on a global scale.”
Innovative Materials Spark Brilliant Design for the International Market
Chery recognized the crucial role of SABIC Innovative Plastics’ materials innovation in pursuing its goal to be a global automotive leader. The upcoming introduction of the A3CC caps months of media attention, with comments that this new sports car promises to change the quality of design in China.
“We chose to collaborate with SABIC Innovative Plastics on the A3CC sports coupe because of the company’s respected global reputation and capabilities; further benefiting from their excellent level of co-development support on this project,” said Shen Haojie, executive director, second product development division, and A3CC program director, Chery Automobile Company, Ltd. “Providing high-performance materials was just the beginning. The SABIC Innovative Plastics team understood our needs, and provided materials, design, and tooling expertise to help us achieve our goals.”
SABIC Innovative Plastics collaborated with Chery on three key applications that offer the potential for expanded use within a vehicle and also across other product lines.
Front fender: Chery is the first Chinese OEM to use conductive Noryl GTX resin for a mass-produced fender. Replacing steel body panels with Noryl GTX resin enabled Chery to cut fender weight by more than 50 percent vs. steel (1.37 kg vs. 2.80 kg) while delivering better low-speed impact durability than steel. Noryl GTX resin can be online painted along with the metal Body-In-White (BIW), avoiding the need for secondary operations and ensuring a perfect color match. Further, this conductive resin does not require a primer step prior to painting.
Fuel-filler door: This part is traditionally molded and painted by the component supplier, potentially causing color mismatches with the body. Molding this part from Noryl GTX resin enables it to be painted online along with the rest of the BIW. This streamlined approach avoids quality issues and enhances aesthetics.
Energy absorbers and undertray: The A3CC’s front bumper will incorporate an energy absorber made with Xenoy resin and an undertray molded with Stamax LGFPP compound. These components – which meet European Union (EU) 2003/102/EC Phase II lower leg pedestrian protection requirements and Economic Community of Europe (ECE) and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) impact test requirements for low speed vehicle damageability – form a globally compliant bumper system. The rear bumper system will also incorporate an energy absorber made with Xenoy resin, and meets ECE and FMVSS low-speed vehicle damageability requirements.
Overall benefits from SABIC Innovative Plastics’ materials include weight-out for energy efficiency, part consolidation, design flexibility and system cost reduction from online painting.
For more information on SABIC Innovative Plastics’ products for the automotive industry, please visit the company website at www.sabic-ip.com. For technical product inquiries, please contact us at www.sabic-ip.com/prtechinquiry.
SABIC is Exhibiting at K 2010 in Düsseldorf, Germany in Hall 6, Stand D42
For K 2010, SABIC’s focus is A Culture of Innovation, which means investing in Growth, Technology, Sustainability and Customer Focus. We help our customers to innovate, differentiate their applications and optimize costs by:
Investing in global expansion;
Providing the broadest product portfolio that delivers better performance and adds value;
Developing environmentally responsible products and solutions that provide significant and measurable performance advantages; and
Working closely with our customers to build long-term, lasting relationships.
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.
October 29. 2010 - Wilmington, Delaware - DuPont announced a price increase for the Americas region of $0.08 per pound for all DuPont™ Nucrel® grades. This increase is effective Nov. 1, 2010.
DuPont (www.dupont.com) is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 90 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.
October 27, 2010 - Leverkusen, Germany - Free of halogens and red phosphorus - One reason is that many equipment manufacturers in the industry are now voluntarily agreeing to give preferential treatment to plastics with halogen-free flame retardancy properties. Polyamides whose additives are not only flame-retardant but also free of red phosphorus have been especially popular in recent times. “Our material meets precisely these requirements. It achieves excellent ratings in flame retardancy tests, has a wide processing window for injection molding and is perfect for components with very thin walls such as plug connectors, coil formers and tiny USB plugs,” explains Alexander Radeck, an expert in application development at LANXESS’ Semi-Crystalline Products business unit.
Many manufacturers of consumer electronics have stopped using halogenated flame-retardant plastics in a bid to become more eco-friendly. Their aim is to improve their image among end consumers by boosting the sustainability of their operations. More and more companies are opting for halogen-free flame retardant plastics that contain no red phosphorus because of its inherently dark color, which prevents the corresponding components from being given a light color. Color is a crucial design element and a safety feature in many applications. Red phosphorus can also cause corrosion when it comes in contact with metals in warm or moist conditions.
Excellent UL ratings Tests conducted in accordance with standard UL 94 of the U.S. testing organization Underwriters’ Laboratories (UL) confirm the high flame retardancy of Durethan DP AKV 30 FN00. Test pieces between 0.4 and 3 millimeters thick passed the test and were awarded the classification V-0. Moreover, the thermoplastic is difficult to ignite and has a short flame time. At 960 °C, it achieved the best possible GWFI (Glow Wire Flammability Index) value for plastics in the glow wire test pursuant to IEC 60695-2-12 based on test piece thicknesses of between 0.8 and 3 millimeters. In the HWI (Hot Wire Ignition) and HAI (High Amp Arc Ignition) tests, the material was classified in the best performance level category (PLC 0), even at a test piece thickness of 0.4 millimeters. This makes it highly suitable as an insulating material in line with UL standard 508.
High CTI value with long-term heat resistance The electrical properties of polyamide 66 are also rated very highly. For instance, its CTI A (Comparative Tracking Index, IEC 60112) value of 600 volts means it is very tracking resistant and therefore boasts the best possible classification (PLC 0) on the UL Yellow Card. The risk of short circuits and equipment faults resulting from leakage currents in applications is thus greatly reduced.
Even in air, this material, which is reinforced with 30 percent glass fibers, has high heat resistance in continuous use. “Tests to assess compliance with UL 746 B are currently under way and excellent Yellow Card values are expected for the Relative Thermal Index (RTI) with respect to all three load types specified in the standard,” explained Radeck. The material also boasts impressive mechanical properties. The high Izod impact strength (ISO 180-1U) of 55 kJ/m2 is just one noteworthy example.
The new polyamide 66 was designed to have a broad processing window for injection molding. According to Radeck, “This material can easily cope with wall thicknesses of well under one millimeter – for instance in plug connectors.” The material is used instead of flame-retardant PBT, polyamide 46 and polyphthalamide in many applications.
LANXESS (lanxess.com) is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 5.06 billion in 2009 and currently around 14,400 employees in 23 countries. The company is represented at 42 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals.
October 29, 2010 - DuPont Performance Polymers has augmented its portfolio of thermoplastic materials by introducing two specific grades of DuPont Rynite polyethylene terephtalate (PET) for solar applications. UV-resistant DuPont Rynite PET resins are designed for cost-effective manufacturing of photovoltaic module frames and components, the company says.
Rynite 935SUV is a 35% glass-fiber/mineral-reinforced, UV-stabilized grade of PET suitable for injection molding; Rynite 540SUV is a 40% glass-fiber-reinforced, UV-stabilized grade of PET suitable for extrusion and injection molding. Both grades combine high stiffness with low warpage and have been specifically developed for long-term outdoor applications.
When used in photovoltaic applications, DuPont's polymers can help increase design flexibility for greater ease of assembly and installation, as well as provide an opportunity for functional integration (thereby reducing the overall number of components), according to the company.
October 27, 2010 - Leverkusen, Germany - “Innovations in Polymers Energized by LANXESS” is the specialty chemical company’s slogan for the international K 2010 plastics fair in Dusseldorf. “This slogan and the design of our stand underline our commitment to innovation. We provide highly effective materials, processes and technologies in responses to the demands of global megatrends and our most important markets. We are also a creative development partner for the associated key industries,” explained Dr. Werner Breuers, member of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG. The stand of this Leverkusen-based specialty chemicals group covers around 1,300 square meters and its generous size and distinctive design provide the Butyl Rubber, Performance Butadiene Rubbers, Technical Rubber Products, Rubber Chemicals, Semi-Crystalline Products, Functional Chemicals and Inorganic Pigments business units with the ideal forum to showcase their developments.
Efficient lightweight construction, replacing metal and thermosetting plastics Exhibits relating to Durethan polyamides and Pocan polybutylene terephthalates will concentrate on applications in the automotive, environmental, electrical/electronics and living sectors, with a focus on lightweight construction using easy-flowing, highly filled material grades. The exhibits include numerous components consisting of the exceptionally stiff polyamide 6 Durethan DP BKV 60 H2.0 EF filled with 60 percent glass fibers, perfect for applications such as a printing press pan, intake manifold and circuit breaker. A highlight that offers a replacement for sheet steel is the polyamide 6 spare wheel recess with integrated reinforcing channels in the Audi A8. The front end of the Audi A8 reveals the opportunities opened up by the use of organic sheets instead of metal in plastic-metal composite technology (hybrid technology) with Durethan. These nylon composite sheets are used to create a thin U-section in the lower beam of the hybrid front end. This results in a weight reduction of 20 percent compared with the equivalent aluminum insert. An innovative material for the electrical/electronics industry is Durethan DP AKV 30 FN00. This flame-retardant polyamide 66 does not contain any halogens or red phosphorus and is ideal for products such as insulation material.
Innovations in rubber The innovations on display in the rubber and additive field cover the complete range of applications for these materials. One example of a successful development is Therban AT 3400 VP. This low-viscosity HNBR elastomer flows much more easily than previous Therban grades, making it ideal for liquid injection molding, for example. Special new Therban grades are also the material of choice for seals used in the pressure refueling of natural-gas-operated vehicles. This synthetic rubber is resistant to natural gas and retains much greater flexibility in cold conditions than fluororubbers, even at -40 °C. As a result, seals made of this material do not become brittle at the icy temperatures that occur during refueling and thus maintain their sealing effect.
A further process innovation comes in the form of removable adhesive films made from the EVM polymer Levamelt. These can now also be produced in high volumes using blown film extrusion. LANXESS, in conjunction with a manufacturer of extrusion equipment, has demonstrated this using a three-layer film with a functional layer of Levamelt. This EVM polymer is in high demand on the adhesive film market, as its bonding properties can be adapted to substrates of different polarities.
LANXESS is the sponsor of this year’s “Rubber Street” K 2010 will once again feature a “Rubber Street” in Hall 6. LANXESS is the sponsor this year of the initiative, which has been a proven success since it was introduced at “K” in 1983. “As the world’s leading manufacturer of synthetic rubbers, we would like to offer companies in the rubber-processing industry a platform to present their new developments,” said Breuers.
New additives for the polymer industry LANXESS is also offering a multitude of new products in its additives range, such as Disflamoll TP LXS 51036, an odor-neutral flame retardant for PVC-based artificial leather products. Other innovations include formulations of the tried-and-tested flame-retardant construction material Bayfomox that can be applied easily and safely as a spray foam. Silica additive 9202 is an excellent alternative to zinc soaps used as an emulsifier for silica in “green tires”. Its use means that no zinc finds its way into the environment through tire abrasion. And, unlike zinc soaps, it does not have a plasticizing effect. Further key topics include various alternatives to phthalate-containing bonding agents and plasticizers and developments in the fields of, for example, vulcanization accelerators, crosslinkers, peptizing agents and antidegradants.
Successful culture of innovation “All the new developments presented by LANXESS at K 2010 reflect the creative culture of innovation we have evolved in our company,” said Breuers. This culture has enabled LANXESS to significantly boost the effectiveness and success of its research and development activities.
LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 5.06 billion in 2009 and currently around 14,400 employees in 23 countries. The company is represented at 42 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals.
October 28, 2010 - Dusseldorf, Germany - At the K Show, the Innovative Plastics strategic business unit of SABIC, announced the establishment of a new business unit to meet growing customer demand for advanced engineering thermoplastic materials and application development expertise in the Middle East and Africa. This new organization, which is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, demonstrates SABIC’s strong commitment to this increasingly important region – providing customers access to a robust portfolio of more than 40,000 high-performance resins. The new business unit will be led by Richard Crosby, a veteran Innovative Plastics executive and scientist.
“Our innovation in materials and service has been a key differentiator in helping customers be successful in growing and dynamic markets – from understanding their unique requirements to continuously innovating high-performance materials, technologies and services that help give them competitive differentiation,” said Charlie Crew, president and chief executive officer, Innovative Plastics. “Under Richard’s leadership, we are committed to providing the same level of support in the Middle East and Africa to help OEMs and processors in the region create world-class products. This new business unit will enable customers to easily leverage our expansive portfolio of solutions to meet the changing requirements of local and global markets.”
Today’s announcement is the second recent example of SABIC’s focus to bring advanced materials solutions to this important region. The company recently announced a new Application Development Technology Center in Riyadh, which is slated to open in late 2012. The center will offer customers advanced design, material development, conversion processing and part testing.
“Innovative Plastics’ proven success in serving global industries such as appliances, automotive, building and construction, alternative energy and electrical components will enable us to establish and grow new customer relationships as well as create greater market demand in this growing region,” noted Crosby. “For example, the solar energy industry, a major focus area for the Middle East, uses several of our engineering thermoplastics in current photovoltaic applications and will need new innovative materials for future designs. We see an opportunity to add value to the design, development and production of new applications across multiple markets helping our customers achieve their business goals.”
Crosby brings 22 years of extensive experience in business development, marketing and technology to his role. Most recently he served as the general manager of marketing and technology for the Innovative Plastics’ business unit in the Pacific. He holds a doctorate in chemistry from Texas A&M University.
For additional information on SABIC Innovative Plastics’ thermoplastic materials portfolio, please go to www.sabic-ip.com. For technical product inquiries, please contact us at www.sabic-ip.com/prtechinquiry.
SABIC is Exhibiting at K 2010 in Düsseldorf, Germany in Hall 6, Stand D42
For K 2010, SABIC’s focus is A Culture of Innovation, which means investing in Growth, Technology, Sustainability and Customer Focus. We help our customers to innovate, differentiate their applications and optimize costs by:
Investing in global expansion;
Providing the broadest product portfolio that delivers better performance and adds value;
Developing environmentally responsible products and solutions that provide significant and measurable performance advantages; and
Working closely with our customers to build long-term, lasting relationships.
About SABIC
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) ranks among the world’s top six petrochemical companies. The company is among the world’s market leaders in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene and other advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilizers.
SABIC recorded a net profit of SR 9 billion (US$ 2.4 billion) in 2009. Sales revenues for 2009 totaled SR 103 billion (US$ 27 billion). Total assets stood at SR 297 billion (US$ 79.2 billion) at the end of 2009.
SABIC’s businesses are grouped into Chemicals, Polymers, Performance Chemicals, Fertilizers, Metals and Innovative Plastics. SABIC has significant research resources with six dedicated Technology & Innovation Centers in Saudi Arabia, Europe, the USA and India. The company operates in more than 40 countries across the world with 33,000 employees worldwide.
The company has 19 world-scale complexes in Saudi Arabia. Elsewhere, SABIC manufactures on a global scale in the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. SABIC’s overall production has increased from 35 million metric tons in 2001 to 59 million metric tons in 2009.
Headquartered in Riyadh, SABIC was founded in 1976 when the Saudi Arabian Government decided to use the hydrocarbon gases associated with its oil production as the principal feedstock for production of chemicals, polymers and fertilizers. The Saudi Arabian Government owns 70 percent of SABIC shares with the remaining 30 percent held by private investors in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
October 28, 2010 - Pittsburgh, PA - As the weather cools and winter approaches, Bayer MaterialScience LLC color experts have developed playful shades for this season’s autumn and winter palette. Bayer MaterialScience LLC has added seven new colors to the LEDA® Compounded Color Technology’s JUST COOL color family for autumn that convey a sense of optimism.
With trend-spotting assistance from the Color Marketing Group (CMG), an international not-for-profit association of color design professionals based in Alexandria, Va., Bayer MaterialScience’s Color Competence and Design Center (CCDC) attempts to anticipate this season’s most sought-after styles, while providing colors that will remain fresh and relevant for several years.
“For this season, we used the idea of balancing bold colors to extend the lifespan of each hue,” said Michael George, Newark, Ohio, site laboratory manager, Bayer MaterialScience LLC.
The seven newest colors in the LEDA® Compounded Color Technology JUST COOL family include:
Fleet – Far from the “battleship” grays of old, this color offers a renewed sense of stability with its blue shade, providing a solid foundation for complementing and supporting the brighter colors in the fall palette.
Envy – This transparent, minty green takes the natural and gives it a modern twist, while brightening the autumn palette.
Scrambled – Showing the softer side of an energetic yellow, Scrambled is bright enough to command attention, yet not overpowering. It gives thoughts of a warm summer day as we move toward winter and a hopeful new year.
Berg – This bright white shade offers an optimistic hint of blue, a reminder that every gray winter cloud has a silver lining.
Jester – Don’t be fooled by this classic autumn color, as it anchors the new color family with a deep plum hue while offering balance to the brighter colors.
Tingle – A pastel sunset-orange hue with hints of brown complements each of the colors by providing soft flexibility.
Lollipop – This candy-apple red transparent color highlights the fun of the season, and it will make your mouth water.
Berg, Scrambled and Tingle were developed in flame-retardant Bayblend® FR3001 polycarbonate/acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene (PC/ABS) blend resin and will be available in general-purpose and flame-retardant grades of Bayblend PC/ABS plastics. Lollipop, Envy, Jester and Fleet were developed in general purpose Makrolon® 2605 polycarbonate resin and will be available in general-purpose and flame-retardant grades of Makrolon PC plastics. These colors can be used in a wide range of applications, including consumer appliances, electronics and any other fashion-forward products.
“These are not traditional fall colors,” said George. “We hope the contrasting of bright and soft, light and dark, transparent and opaque will provide manufacturers a range of colors that will be popular in products for years to come. These shades can also serve as starting points for developing new, unique colors –which is, after all, what we do at our CCDC facilities around the world,” he added.
The seven new LEDA colors were developed at Bayer MaterialScience’s Color Competence and Design Center in Newark, Ohio. Color experts at the Color Competence and Design Centers in Newark, Ohio; Filago, Italy; Map Ta Phut, Thailand; Greater Noida, India; and Guangzhou and Shanghai, China can help customers visualize their unique color and can customize effects to suit each client’s individual needs.
Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of polymers and high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with approximately 14,300 employees at 30 production sites around the world and 2009 sales of 7.5 billion euros. The company manufactures high-tech polymer materials and develops innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical, and sports and leisure industries. Sustainability is central to Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s business and is based around the key areas of innovation, product stewardship, excellence in corporate management, social responsibility and respect for the environment.
For more information about Bayer MaterialScience's LEDA® Compounded Color Technologies, call 1-800-662-2927, e-mail PCinfo@bayerbms.com or visit www.bayermaterialsciencenafta.com.
For more information on all Fantasia® color and special effect technologies, visit www.BayerFantasia.com.
October 27, 2010 - At the opening of the K 2010 International Plastics and Rubber Trade Fair, BASF will be exhibiting JOIN cutlery made of Ultramid® A3EG6 FC plastic, a food contact-approved special polyamide. This high-quality plastic cutlery with the innovative design is the creation of the three co-owners of the design studio ding3000 in Hanover. It is not, however, limited to serving as an eating utensil: It also serves as brain-teaser, conversation piece and table decoration. The team at the BASF designfabrik™ contributed to its development and design. The cutlery is produced by Konstantin Slawinski, whose company has been known for manufacturing unusual household products with a certain design appeal for several years.
Japanese puzzle as the source of inspiration
The designers Carsten Schelling, Sven Rudolph and Ralph Webermann, who have focused on furniture and household appliances since 2005, were inspired by a Japanese toy, where three small sticks are joined – apparently inseparably – by a “square knot”. The stick-together cutlery, consisting of fork, knife and spoon and which has been available from Konstantin Slawinski since August 2010, employs the same principle: Each of the three cutlery items has an opening in the middle that allows them to be joined, forming a small yet stabile free-standing sculpture that challenges the user to test his or her mental dexterity before being able to eat.
Plastics expertise from the designfabrik
The experts at the BASF designfabrik™ were able to assist ding3000 in selecting the right plastic and converting the product idea into reality. They remedied weak spots by testing and optimizing the design on a virtual prototype using the ULTRASIM™ simulation tool. In addition, together with their partners in the project, they chose the glass fiber-reinforced special polyamide Ultramid® A3EG6 FC as the optimal material. Not only is it approved for food contact (FC: food contact); it is tough, heat-resistant, dishwasher-safe and can be easily colored. These characteristics make this Ultramid the right cutlery material when it comes to meeting the requirements for this rather unusual application for an engineering plastic. Because of the material’s inherent strength, it was possible to come up with a more delicate design than that typical of most common plastic cutlery. The heat resistance of the material allows hot foods to be cut, while the attractive, finely serrated knife blade that the ding3000 team developed will retain a durable cutting edge. Finally, not only the plastic, but also the additives and colorants used must be approved for food contact. Cologne-based BASF Color Solutions resolved this issue with its products.
The consulting services offered by the designfabrik are available to both free-lance and company-employed designers who need assistance when working with BASF materials. Two industrial designers and numerous BASF engineers provide support in answering questions about the correct design for plastics, suitable processing methods, surfaces and colors as well as form and function.
October 27, 2010 - Dusseldorf, Germany - At K 2010, Hall 6, Stand D42, SABIC is showcasing new technologies, expanded capabilities and strong customer relationships that comprise its theme for the show: Culture of Innovation. A key focus is SABIC’s sustainability strategy, underscoring the company’s commitment to addressing worldwide sustainability issues – including energy and greenhouse gas reduction, water conservation and material efficiency. The SABIC stand features an impressive array of materials from its broad and growing portfolio that enable breakthrough applications across major growth sectors such as healthcare, automotive, electronics, packaging, film and alternative energy.
“Participation at K 2010 allows SABIC to demonstrate our steadfast, long-term commitment to the plastics industry and our customers,” said Khaled Al-Mana, executive vice president, Polymers, SABIC. “Our Culture of Innovation focus drives SABIC’s strategy to be the preferred world leader in chemicals and plastics. We are proud to show how investments in our global capabilities and portfolio help us achieve mutual success with our customers.”
“SABIC is investing and driving growth in the global plastics industry by providing material solutions that deliver better performance and added value to our customers,” said Charlie Crew, president and chief executive officer, SABIC Innovative Plastics. “In keeping with our long, rich history of innovation, we continue to expand the boundaries of materials excellence with next-generation products, processing expertise, and advanced application development capabilities to help customers differentiate, compete and grow. Our number-one priority is to support our customers’ success.”
SABIC’s Culture of Innovation theme for K 2010 is built on four strategic pillars: growth, technology, sustainability and customer focus.
1. Growth
To meet customers’ requirements today and tomorrow, SABIC continues to invest in the expansion of global production capacity and to add new technology resources in key sectors.
SABIC’s Expanded Capacity – In 2009, the company added more than one-million tons of polymer capacity at its plants in Sharq and Yansab in Saudi Arabia; expanded bi-model high-density polyethylene (HDPE) production in Germany; and opened a new low-density polyethylene (LDPE) facility in the United Kingdom (U.K.). Considerable capacity will be added when SABIC’s plants in Saudi Kayan and Al-Jubal, Saudi Arabia come online in the near future.
SABIC® PP Compounding Capabilities – The company will add state-of-the-art specialty PP compounding to its Bay St. Louis, Miss., site in the first quarter of 2011 to satisfy demand from the North American automotive sector. The new Genk, Belgium facility, the largest greenfield PP compounding plant ever built in Europe, will supply polypropylene (PP) compounds to Europe and Stamax® composites to Europe and Asia Pacific.
Ultem* Polyetherimide (PEI) Resin Production Facility – SABIC Innovative Plastics new Ultem PEI resin production facility in Cartagena, Spain opened in September and will provide customers with enhanced supply reliability. Further, sophisticated technology and scalable capacity for producing ultra-high-temperature Extem* resin grades and specialty intermediates (anhydrides) have been incorporated.
LDPE Plant – SABIC's Teesside, United Kingdom, plant has a name plate capacity of 400 kt/year (which makes it the largest plant of its kind in the world). The material targets growing customer needs for packaging applications. This capacity enables SABIC to ensure a reliable and long-term supply of LDPE.
Exatec* Plasma Coating Technology – There has been an upgrade to the SABIC Innovative Plastics’ businesses plasma coating capabilities at its United States global technology center in Wixom, Mich. The upgrade expands plasma coating capabilities for Lexan* polycarbonate (PC) glazing solutions. These enhanced plasma coatings have been shown to improve the scratch and abrasion resistance of Lexan PC glazing.
2. Technology
SABIC continues to focus on the development of new and future innovations, giving customers a broad and growing portfolio of materials technologies. These materials deliver better performance and added value by reducing system costs, opening up new design opportunities, and driving market penetration and growth. Key technologies include:
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Tape Fabric – Jointly developed by SABIC and the Austrian engineering company, Starlinger & Co. Gesellschaft m.b.H. The new fabric can be made with material input that is reduced drastically, compared with a woven fabric made from filaments, while the high-quality chemical and physical characteristics of PET are maintained.
Extem Resin Blends – A new, incredibly tough family of high-end resin blends for electrical applications, with one of the industry’s highest continuous use heat performance meeting UL 746B requirements up to 240C.
SABIC PP Flowpact Copolymers – Delivering measurable benefits to converters, particularly for thin-wall packaging. They offer shorter cycle times, lower energy costs and increased down gauging possibilities, and have proven successful in the high-end food packaging sector.
Ultem PEI Composite Aerospace Board (CAB) – A superior alternative to thermoset aramid honeycomb composites, co-developed and manufactured with Crane & Co. Advantages include much faster cycle times and the ability to be “re-skinned” to lengthen its useful life.
Light Emitting Diode (LED) Portfolio of Advanced Resin Technologies – Including flame-retardant (FR) Lexan PC resin enabling thin-wall transparent lighting and diffusion applications with UL94 V0 compliance at 1.5 mm.
SABIC LD/LLDPE – A combined concept with multi layer film, this material enables converters of consumer packaging to reduce material usage considerably while optimizing performance on their equipment. Customers benefit from cost savings, improved down gauging opportunities, higher processing speeds, and lower energy consumption.
Conductive Noryl GTX* 98 Polyphenylene Oxide (PPO) Resins – Allows automotive designers greater freedom to create larger top-quality, high-precision body panels than previously feasible. They cut the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) by 20 to 40 percent vs. previous grades for increased dimensional stability and improved gap and flush management.
3. Sustainability
Global sustainability issues are at the core of SABIC’s business strategy, built on the company’s commitment to maximize the usefulness of valuable natural resources. Customers want solutions that help reduce their environmental footprint by cutting energy consumption during manufacturing; that help reduce the weight of their products or make them thinner; and that are more easily recycled or include recycled content. SABIC’s product portfolio, technological expertise and history of innovation enable the development of materials that can help customers tackle a wide variety of environmental issues.
Sustainability examples announced here today include:
SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Sustainability Solutions Portfolio – The company is announcing its expanded Sustainability Solutions portfolio and new validation process for sustainable materials, designed to help customers worldwide lower their carbon and energy footprints, eliminate waste, and ensure strict compliance with global environmental regulations. All products meet an appropriate third-party standard or, in the absence of a recognized standard, pass an evaluation of their environmental benefits using a rigorous Sustainable Product Scorecard developed with top environmental sustainability consulting firm, GreenOrder.
SABIC PP Qrystal – Delivering new, improved levels of optical performance and energy savings for converters. It can be processed at significantly lower temperatures than comparable grades without any loss of transparency, delivering energy savings of as much as 15 percent.
Post Consumer Recycled (PCR) Materials – New significantly expanded array of SABIC Innovative Plastics PCR additions to the company’s successful Valox iQ*, Xenoy iQ*, and Lexan EXL PCR product lines include Cycoloy* PCR resins, Noryl* Classico PCR resins and three new grades of Lexan EXL resins.
SABIC Vestolen A RELY – A new standard for HDPE high-pressure pipe applications enabling converters to achieve considerable energy savings and supporting environmentally responsible trenchless pipe installation. SABIC also developed a state-of-the-art Strain Hardening test for evaluating the crack resistance behavior of HDPE pipes. This methodology avoids the use of detergents that can pose an environmental hazard.
SABIC LDPE Ultra Melt Strength (UMS) Line – Provides the opportunity to lower the density of foam applications considerably while maintaining the same mechanical properties and improving thermal performance. This outstanding combination of properties results in noticeable material and energy savings.
New Ultra-Stiff Lexan Thermoclear* Multi-wall PC Sheet – Has the capability to withstand wind and snow loading pressures of up to 2200 N/m2 for roofing and cladding, provides outstanding design freedom for large architectural applications such as sports stadiums. It offers exceptional stiffness, lower weight vs. glass, and two-sided ultraviolet (UV) coating for long-term durability.
4. Customer Focus
To help customers innovate, differentiate their applications, and optimize manufacture, SABIC works collaboratively throughout the application development process. A dedicated local team presence around the world enables the company to meet unique customers’ needs in a broad range of geographies and industries.
Customer innovation seminars will be held at SABIC’s booth during the course of the K show. These seminars are focused on educating and assisting customers in solving real-world challenges with SABIC materials technologies and innovations to help customers grow their businesses. Seminars range from metal replacement; reducing weight in automobiles; maximizing sustainability opportunities; and high-performance materials for the aircraft and rail markets to the use of thermoplastics in photovoltaics; innovative solutions using Lexan polycarbonate sheet; resins for the healthcare industry; and more.
Underscoring the theme of innovation, the SABIC stand is a unique, double-decker, 1,200 m2 (12,917 ft2) design named Culture of Innovation lounge. The stand is based on the structure of a molecule as the core building block of existence and SABIC materials were used in the construction. For example, the new grade of Lexan SG305-OB PC sheet is used for the interior and exteriors walls of the stand to illuminate the dynamic LED light band flowing along the top edge of the structure. This unique product offers both uniform light diffusion to eliminate LED “pinholes” and a view of light sources, and superior light transmission for exceptional optical brightness at lower energy costs.
About SABIC
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) ranks among the world’s top six petrochemical companies. The company is among the world’s market leaders in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene and other advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilizers.
SABIC recorded a net profit of SR 9 billion (US$ 2.4 billion) in 2009. Sales revenues for 2009 totaled SR 103 billion (US$ 27 billion). Total assets stood at SR 297 billion (US$ 79.2 billion) at the end of 2009.
SABIC’s businesses are grouped into Chemicals, Polymers, Performance Chemicals, Fertilizers, Metals and Innovative Plastics. SABIC has significant research resources with six dedicated Technology & Innovation Centers in Saudi Arabia, Europe, the USA and India. The company operates in more than 40 countries across the world with 33,000 employees worldwide.
The company has 19 world-scale complexes in Saudi Arabia. Elsewhere, SABIC manufactures on a global scale in the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. SABIC’s overall production has increased from 35 million metric tons in 2001 to 59 million metric tons in 2009.
Headquartered in Riyadh, SABIC was founded in 1976 when the Saudi Arabian Government decided to use the hydrocarbon gases associated with its oil production as the principal feedstock for production of chemicals, polymers and fertilizers. The Saudi Arabian Government owns 70 percent of SABIC shares with the remaining 30 percent held by private investors in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
® SABIC and Stamax are registered trademarks of SABIC. * Trademarks of SABIC Innovative Plastics IP BV.
October 26, 2010 - Software provider Firehole Technologies has announced a contract with Farr Yacht Design Ltd covering analytical evaluation, design review and modification recommendations for a high performance ocean racing yacht.
Farr Yacht Design, based in Annapolis, Maryland, USA, has produced over 300 designs, ranging from custom racing yachts to production cruisers and dinghies.
“We’ve been looking for an engineering firm that provides state-of-the-art analytical skills, timely/reliable delivery, personal interaction and flexibility," Mark Bishop, a Senior Design Engineer at Farr Yacht Design. "In Firehole I believe that we’ve found them. They shrink the gap between technical analysis and physical design; this makes it possible for us to interface directly with their staff and make real-time corrections and modifications to the design. This saves our team hours, money and frustration. Firehole also offers one of the most impressive and unique methods of composite evaluation we’ve seen – Helius:MCT™ – a product that lets us see exactly how composites perform under extreme loads. Tools like this allow us to maximise performance and optimise weight while still maintaining safety margins.”
Firehole Technologies, headquartered in Laramie, Wyoming, USA, supplies computer-aided simulation software and services for composite materials used in the aerospace, defence, automotive and energy industries.
