New European Production Location and Expanded Capacity to Benefit Customers of GE Plastics' 'xtreme' Lexan Resins.

To provide a European source of supply for its line of 'xtreme' Lexan polycarbonate (PC) resins while boosting overall capacity by approximately 300%, GE Plastics has announced it will expand production of these speciality products beyond the United States. The company will invest 62 million Euro to retrofit its Lexan Resin facility in Bergen op Zoom for the manufacture of Lexan EXL, SLX, DMX, and XHT copolymer resins, giving European customers the advantage of shorter delivery times. Broader availability of these unique materials will help more customers differentiate their applications and achieve new levels of performance, processability, and aesthetics.

'GE's xtreme resins - each with a set of specialised properties - offer customers new ways in which to differentiate their products and even create applications they couldn't produce previously,' said Heiner Markhoff, vice president of GE Plastics Europe.

'We're making a major capital investment to support expected growth of our Lexan resin specials at many of our European customers and worldwide'.

'By adding significant production capacity in The Netherlands, we aim to expedite delivery to European customers so they can accelerate time to market'.

The Lexan xtreme resin line includes the following grades:.

Lexan EXL resins: These grades deliver very high ductility and impact performance in extremely low temperatures (down to -60C).

They also provide improved resistance to heat and humidity.

Flame-retardant grades, based on non-chlorine, non-bromine technology to meet increasingly demanding environmental regulations, are available.

Lexan EXL resins provide improved flow, processing characteristics, and release with opportunities for shorter cycle times, compared to conventional PC resins.

They are available in opaque, transparent, and Visualfx resins with special effects colours.

Applications include mobile phones, electrical enclosures, automotive components, and personal safety equipment.

Lexan SLX resins: Offering outstanding long-term weatherability and UV resistance, these grades are being used in lighting, outdoor vehicles and marine components.

Compared to clear or opaque UV-stabilised PC, Lexan SLX resins demonstrate enhanced retention of clarity, colour, gloss and toughness.

They give customers an alternative to the use of clear UV coatings and paints that can add time and cost.

These resins are available with UL94 HB and V2 listings, and utilise non-chlorine and non-bromine flame-retardant systems for regulatory compliance.

Lexan XHT resins: These materials expand heat resistance capabilities beyond that of standard polycarbonate resins from 165C to 220C Tg, while maintaining many of the desirable properties of polycarbonate.

Typically used in automotive, industrial lighting, and personal protective equipment segments, Lexan XHT resins also offer improved flow and processability compared to other options with equivalent heat resistance, allowing customers to fill larger tools or thinner wall sections.

Current resin grades are available in a range of opaque colours while others in development may be excellent candidates for transparent applications.

Lexan DMX resins: Improved scratch resistance with H pencil hardness, combined with good processing characteristics, offer the potential for improved yields and elimination of painting/coating vs conventional PC.

Lexan DMX resins also provide up to five times better oxygen and moisture barrier performance plus excellent resistance to ammonia, compared to standard PC.

They are available in transparent and Visualfx resins colours, as well as flame-retardant grades with V0 ratings down to 1.5 mm, as well as non-chlorinated, non-brominated flame retardant grades meeting ECO label regulations.

Applications include business equipment, mobile phones, electronic devices, and electrical enclosures.