AZDEL, INC. EXPANDING GLOBAL COMPOSITE CAPABILITIES

05-Sep-2001

AZDEL, Inc., a joint venture company between General Electric Company and PPG Industries, Inc., announced today that it is expanding its thermoplastic composite materials capacity and capability in both North America and Europe. The capacity expansion will focus on two AZDEL production lines, SuperLite, a lightweight composite used in automotive interior and AZDEL® glass mat thermoplastic (GMT). The expansion calls for capacity for SuperLite applications to more than double at the Lynchburg, Va. facility. The expansion also provides for increased product width capability (up to two meters), as well as enhanced product features such as improved weight consistency and expanded surface performance. AZDEL will also install North America's only chopped-strand GMT production lines at their GMT laminate production facilities in Shelby, N.C. New lines will also beinstalled at their European facility in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands. GMT has experienced recent market growth with automotive products such as bumper beams, protective shielding, spare wheel wells and non-automotive products such as industrial bases and enclosures. These expansions are expected to strengthen AZDEL's position as North America's largest GMT producer. "We are very excited about the growth prospects for our more traditional GMT composites, the new chopped-strand GMT and our SuperLite product family," said Glen Hussmann, president of AZDEL, Inc. "These investments allow us to better serve the growing demand for thermoplastic composite materials and help ensure that we deliver the value our customers want through enhanced process and product capability." Timing for the completion of the SuperLite capacity expansion in Lynchburg, Va. is expected in the first quarter, 2002. AZDEL, Inc. plans to have its chopped-strand GMT products available for sampling and qualification in fourth quarter 2001 with commercial capability planned for fourth quarter 2002. Plans are also underway for a SuperLite production facility in Europe to serve growing demand for a light-weight composite with local supply.

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