Dow Takes It To a New Level Of Excellence

Dow Takes It To a New Level Of Excellence
Introducing the Dow Center of Excellence for Paper and Board Coating

Baden-Baden, Germany - September 20, 2007

Dow Latex recently announced the development of its new Center of Excellence for Paper and Paperboard Coating. Operated by our Paper Latex business, the center will offer expanded pilot coating capabilities for the company’s paper and paperboard industry customers. The new center is located in Samstagern, Switzerland, and is expected to be fully operational by mid-2008. The Samstagern Center of Excellence will become Dow’s global application development center for paper coating.

“This is a significant investment in the future of our business and is part of our growth strategy and commitment to our customers and to the communities in which we work,” said Giuliano Tomassi, global business director, Dow Paper and Carpet Latex. “This investment demonstrates our long term commitment to apply science and technology to develop leading solutions for the paper industry.”

Dow’s new Center of Excellence for paper and board coating will house a state-of-the art pilot coater designed for virtually all conventional coating applications. It will combine facilities to develop and test coating components, coating formulations and machine running conditions. The center will support Dow customers worldwide.

Dow Latex has operated a pilot coating center in Horgen, Switzerland, since 1970. The new investment is our commitment to continue to deliver superior technical knowledge and service. The new facility will take on the operations currently handled at the Horgen pilot coater, and allow for increased capabilities to meet future customer needs.

“The Center provides an important service to our customers by allowing them to conduct real-life production simulations without interrupting their commercial production times,” said Christian Page, Global Marketing Director. “They can use these trials either to improve cost and performance of existing products or to develop new paper grades. Both are critical for our customers to stay competitive in their markets.”

The pilot coater at Dow’s Center of Excellence will receive a number of upgrades at the new facility. These upgrades will allow Dow to meet future needs of our customers as the industry continues to evolve:

New kitchen delivered by BVG improves flexibility, reproducibility and consistency.
New coater frame from Metso Paper with a design speed of 3500 meters per minute.
A 40 percent longer web run allows room for a state-of-the-art drying scheme and sufficient space for future upgrades.
Enhanced drying capabilities by Andritz BMB can simulate capabilities of most customer mills.
New process control system by ABB improves reliability, reproducibility and productivity.
Enhanced multi-layer curtain coating capabilities allow us to run trials with a broad range of formulations and chemistries and with up to five layers at a time.
Improved finishing and logistic capabilities help improve efficiency and shorten the time it takes to send print rolls and samples to our customers.

“The decision to move the pilot coater to the new Center of Excellence is an important step to ensure Dow continues to enhance our paper coating expertise,” says Rainer Knappich, Technical Service and Development Leader. “The new facility enables Dow to further develop innovative solutions in partnership with our customers.”

About Dow

For Editorial Information:

Jennifer Holzinger
The Dow Chemical Company
1-989-636-2952


Applications Paper Paperboard Innovation and Technology Resources and Technical Services Newsroom Image Gallery Media Contact Business Background Events Contact Us Dow Paper Latex Home	Dow Takes It To a New Level Of Excellence Introducing the Dow Center of Excellence for Paper and Board Coating Baden-Baden, Germany - September 20, 2007 Dow Latex recently announced the development of its new Center of Excellence for Paper and Paperboard Coating. Operated by our Paper Latex business, the center will offer expanded pilot coating capabilities for the company’s paper and paperboard industry customers. The new center is located in Samstagern, Switzerland, and is expected to be fully operational by mid-2008. The Samstagern Center of Excellence will become Dow’s global application development center for paper coating. “This is a significant investment in the future of our business and is part of our growth strategy and commitment to our customers and to the communities in which we work,” said Giuliano Tomassi, global business director, Dow Paper and Carpet Latex. “This investment demonstrates our long term commitment to apply science and technology to develop leading solutions for the paper industry.” Dow’s new Center of Excellence for paper and board coating will house a state-of-the art pilot coater designed for virtually all conventional coating applications. It will combine facilities to develop and test coating components, coating formulations and machine running conditions. The center will support Dow customers worldwide. Dow Latex has operated a pilot coating center in Horgen, Switzerland, since 1970. The new investment is our commitment to continue to deliver superior technical knowledge and service. The new facility will take on the operations currently handled at the Horgen pilot coater, and allow for increased capabilities to meet future customer needs. “The Center provides an important service to our customers by allowing them to conduct real-life production simulations without interrupting their commercial production times,” said Christian Page, Global Marketing Director. “They can use these trials either to improve cost and performance of existing products or to develop new paper grades. Both are critical for our customers to stay competitive in their markets.” The pilot coater at Dow’s Center of Excellence will receive a number of upgrades at the new facility. These upgrades will allow Dow to meet future needs of our customers as the industry continues to evolve: New kitchen delivered by BVG improves flexibility, reproducibility and consistency. New coater frame from Metso Paper with a design speed of 3500 meters per minute. A 40 percent longer web run allows room for a state-of-the-art drying scheme and sufficient space for future upgrades. Enhanced drying capabilities by Andritz BMB can simulate capabilities of most customer mills. New process control system by ABB improves reliability, reproducibility and productivity. Enhanced multi-layer curtain coating capabilities allow us to run trials with a broad range of formulations and chemistries and with up to five layers at a time. Improved finishing and logistic capabilities help improve efficiency and shorten the time it takes to send print rolls and samples to our customers. “The decision to move the pilot coater to the new Center of Excellence is an important step to ensure Dow continues to enhance our paper coating expertise,” says Rainer Knappich, Technical Service and Development Leader. “The new facility enables Dow to further develop innovative solutions in partnership with our customers.” About Dow For Editorial Information: Jennifer Holzinger The Dow Chemical Company 1-989-636-2952
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