Rhodia Engineering Plastics recently launched a new web site built in strict accordance with customer needs (www.rhodia-ep.com) to provide faster access to professional technical support.

Demonstrating its role as a global leader in the polyamide world, Rhodia Engineering Plastics recently launched a new web site built in strict accordance with customer needs (www.rhodia-ep.com) to provide faster access to business information and faster access to professional technical support for the entire product portfolio of Rhodia Engineering Plastics. The web site is really a comfortable and efficient working tool thanks to its new design, ease of navigation and categorized information to enhance searches. Categories of Information: * Material Selector: By a simple click, the material selector gives access to markets, brand, polymer type, processing, charge or product name selection and a web page with a first level of product information is visible.

Technical Datasheets and Safety Datasheets are presented and downloadable after registering on the web site.

* Material Selector Advanced: The advanced part of the material selector allows selecting products using multiple values/ranges that the material type must fulfil.

A link is then proposed to save datasheets of interest in 'my library'*.

* About us: This section provides complete information about the worldwide Rhodia Engineering Plastics organization, including sales and distribution channels.

* Markets: The market pages present major segments and applications where Rhodia Engineering Plastics' products have been used successfully.

* Products: The new Rhodia Engineering Plastics web site is providing all needed technical data about Rhodia brands Technyl, Technyl Star, Technyl Alloy.

* Innovation: New products, new applications and new technologies are demonstrated and illustrated to keep customers informed about new possibilities on a regular basis.

* Customer Technical Services: Rhodia provides information and expertise on technical areas such as Computer Aided Engineering; Parts Testing - Processing guides are also available and updated on a regular basis.

This service is enhanced by the possibility to download brochures.

* Sustainable Development: Information about Rhodia's commitments to Sustainable Development including Rhodia Engineering Plastics' health, safety and environmental policies and recycling engagement.

* News: A quick access to the latest press releases concerning Rhodia Engineering Plastics and Rhodia Group has been created.

This section also presents events (conferences and meetings) where Rhodia is demonstrating and exhibiting engineering plastic products.

* E-services - *'SSOL' is the Rhodia e-business platform.

SSOL enables a customer to place and follow orders online, in a totally secured environment, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! * 'My Library' offers the possibility to store in one place direct links to technical documents of choice.

* 'Contact Center' provides ease in presenting questions directly to the best support resource according to specific location and market of interest.

'Rhodia-ep.com is an effective platform and the most advanced e-tool available today for engineering plastic consumers.

This web site is another example of Rhodia's dedication to providing the best of services to engineering plastics professionals throughout the world' said Dr Pierre Luzeau, Director for Europe.

Rhodia Engineering Plastics, headquartered in Lyon, France, is the world wide specialist in polyamide engineering thermoplastic materials.

The company has a sales network that spans the world, with manufacturing plants and technical development centres in Europe, North America, South America and Asia.

Rhodia is one of the world's leading manufacturers of specialty chemicals.

Providing a wide range of innovative products and services to the consumer care, food, industrial care, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, automotive, electronics and fibers markets, Rhodia offers its customers tailor-made solutions based on the cross-fertilization of technologies, people and expertise.

Rhodia subscribes to the principles of Sustainable Development communicating its commitments and performance openly with stakeholders.

Latest two polyamide grades offer more than 4dB improvement versus other engineering plastics such as glass reinforced PP or PA, removing expensive acoustic components such as foams or heavy layers.

Rhodia Engineering Plastics introduces new polyamide materials which offer significantly improved acoustic performance Rhodia Engineering Plastics announced the launch of two new polyamide grades offering acoustic performance that is superior to traditional engineering plastics. These new grades offer more than 4dB improvement versus other engineering plastics such as glass reinforced PP or PA. Thanks to their intrinsic acoustic insulation improvement, Technyl Star S 218dB1 M50 and Technyl Star S 218dB2 MV60 allow designers to remove expensive acoustic components such as foams or heavy layers, without affecting the acoustic performance of their systems and even improving it in some cases.

These solutions open then the way for significant cost savings, combined with new design freedom.

As a mono material solution, these two grades offer an easier recycling solution for parts that have to fulfil a noise insulation role than typically used composite solutions.

In automotive under-the-hood applications, Technyl Star S 218dB1 M50 and Technyl Star S 218dB2 MV60 not only contribute to improved passenger comfort, but also help in compliance with environmental noise and recycling regulations.

Rhodia Engineering Plastics' engineers at the Lyon, France-based Acoustic Center have demonstrated that these grades can optimize the acoustic performance of any kind of application that requires a high level of noise insulation.

Obturators, engine covering systems, distribution covers, bonnet louvers or air pipes in automotive, but also various housings in electrical appliances or sound insulators in buildings are applications currently being re-conceived with this innovative solution.

Technical validation on timing belt cover * Acoustic Insulation measured on parts (Timing belt cover).

* Global acoustic insulation performance.

* Current Solution - (PA.6 MD20GF10 + PUR Foam).

* Rhodia Solution (Technyl Star S218 dB1 M50) Values in green --x-- Rhodia Engineering Plastics, headquartered in Lyon, France, is the world wide specialist in polyamide engineering thermoplastic materials.

The company has a sales network that spans the world, with manufacturing plants and technical development centres in Europe, North America, South America and Asia.

Rhodia is one of the world's leading manufacturers of specialty chemicals.

Providing a wide range of innovative products and services to the consumer care, food, industrial care, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, automotive, electronics and fibers markets, Rhodia offers its customers tailor-made solutions based on the cross-fertilization of technologies, people and expertise.

Rhodia subscribes to the principles of Sustainable Development communicating its commitments and performance openly with stakeholders.

Rhodia generated net sales of EUR 5.5 billion in 2003 and employs 23,000 people worldwide.