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MT. VERNON,
Ind./
U.S.A. --
December
19, 2011
SABIC’s Innovative Plastics business today held a ribbon-cutting ceremony here to mark the opening of a new, state-of-the-art pilot facility that will allow chemistry and process development for its high performance polymers (HPP) – Ultem*, Siltem* and Extem* resins – product line. The new 3,000-sq.-ft., world-class facility is an innovation resource that will enable SABIC to more rapidly produce new polymers – particularly custom formulations – for customers. It will also significantly increase customer access to SABIC research scientists, product development specialists and the intricate application development process. Previously, piloting was done externally; now this work will be seamlessly integrated into product research and development and scale-up to commercial production. The new facility demonstrates SABIC’s ongoing commitment to true innovation, working side-by-side with customers to provide high-performance, tailor-made solutions for greater end-product differentiation and business success. “This is a critically important addition to our capabilities in Mt. Vernon and is the latest in a history of new investments to this site, which has long been a hub for major innovation breakthroughs and the source of 500 patents,” said Sanjay Mishra, global high-performance polymers technology leader, Specialty & Performance, Innovative Plastics. “Mt. Vernon is the ideal location for the new pilot facility because it takes us to a new level of high performance polymers technical innovation and dedicated support that our customers expect of us, especially those in growing, high-demand sectors like aerospace and healthcare.” A Seamless, Collaborative Process Customers wishing to reformulate material properties of an existing application or create a new product using SABIC’s high-performance plastics can choose from the company’s extensive portfolio or collaborate on solutions for unique application needs. SABIC will work with a customer as it engineers a solution. The new pilot facility becomes a critical enabler for new material development, production support of the Mt. Vernon commercial plant and customer application testing. Once the customer is satisfied that a material has met its requirements, the SABIC team may produce bulk quantities at its full-scale manufacturing operation in Mt. Vernon. SABIC’s high performance polymer portfolio consists of Ultem* polyetherimide (PEI) resins, which have been produced in Mt. Vernon for 40 years, are known for their high heat, chemical and flame resistance and high strength and stiffness. They are widely used in aerospace and transportation and the medical device industry. Siltem resins are amorphous materials that combine the high heat resistance of Ultem PEI resin with the flexibility of silicone elastomers. Applications include wire and cable coatings. Extem amorphous thermoplastic polyimide (TPI) resins deliver high performance at prolonged extreme temperatures and exceptional dimensional stability for thin-wall molding. Extem grades offer the potential to replace ceramic and metal in applications where thermoplastics are not suitable, and bring advantages of weight-out, excellent design flexibility and system cost reduction. They are inherently flame retardant without the use of halogenated additives that can pose environmental risks and raise regulatory compliance issues. Applications include wire and cable insulation, high-performance connectors and accessories, and semicon plasma chamber components and pickup systems. The pilot facility will begin operations in the first quarter of 2012. For additional information on SABIC’s high-performance polymers, please go to www.sabic-ip.com. For technical product inquiries, please contact us at www.sabic-ip.com/prtechinquiry. About Saudi Basic Industries Corporation Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) ranks among the world’s top petrochemical companies, and is a global market leader in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene, advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilizers. SABIC manufactures with a global footprint in Saudi Arabia, the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. The company operates in more than 40 countries across the world with 33,000 employees worldwide. It has significant research resources with 18 dedicated Technology & Innovation facilities in Saudi Arabia, the USA, the Netherlands, Spain, India and China. SABIC recorded a net income of SR 21.59 billion (US$ 5.73 billion) in 2010, and sales revenues totaled SR 152 billion (US$ 40.5 billion). About Innovative Plastics The Innovative Plastics strategic business unit of SABIC is a leading, global supplier of engineering thermoplastics with an 80-year history of breakthrough solutions that solve its customers’ most pressing challenges. Today, 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. Innovative Plastics (www.sabic-ip.com) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC). # # # * Trademarks of SABIC Innovative Plastics IP B.V. For more information contact:Innovative Plastics Media Contacts Europe Asia Agency Media Contacts Brazil Europe China Japan |
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