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Dow Polyurethane Systems Poised for Global GrowthTechnology expertise, global network, and back integration bring advantages to customers worldwide
Midland, MI - May 02, 2007 Dow Polyurethanes, a business group of The Dow Chemical Company, is further expanding the global presence and product offering of its Polyurethanes (PU) Systems business, according to Juan Antonio Merino, global general manager, Dow PU Systems. Through its long-term strategy, which reflects the Company’s focus on investing in the performance businesses, including its market-facing businesses, PU Systems will continue to broaden its extensive technology portfolio and its geographic reach through organic growth as well as through strategic acquisitions and joint ventures. Today, Dow Polyurethanes announced the completion of its acquisition of Hyperlast Limited, British Vita’s polyurethane systems business. The Hyperlast acquisition includes elastomer systems enterprises in the United Kingdom and North America as well as Autothane Limited, a leading manufacturer of advanced automotive suspension components. The acquisition allows Dow Polyurethanes to enhance its tailored solution offerings for the marine, engineering resins, oil and gas pipelines, and automotive industries. It is the fourth transaction geared at growing the specialty capabilities that the business has completed since 2000, with the previous being a joint venture with Izolan, a leading Russian PU systems house, under the name Dow Izolan in August 2006; the acquisition of Italy’s EniChem polyurethanes business in September 2001; and the acquisition of General Latex in March 2000. “Adding complementary technologies to the Dow PU Systems’ toolbox and solidifying the business’s regional presence around the globe enable us provide the best service to our diverse customers and meet their specific formulation needs in a focused and cost-competitive way,” said Merino. “Customers in this market are looking for innovation, and Dow PU Systems has the know-how and the advantageous raw materials and geographic network position to capture the versatility of the urethane chemistry to develop value-creating applications.” As global demand for polyurethanes products continues to rise across all market segments, Dow takes steps to ensure the reliability of supply and dedicated, focused service for customers in all geographies. In April of this year, Dow PU Systems inaugurated a market development and prototyping laboratory in Cairo, Egypt. The facility will support the development as well as the manufacturing and commercializing of products for a vast array of innovative applications. A similar laboratory was established in China in 2005; another one will be opened in Spain by the end of 2007. While consumption of polyurethanes is healthy overall – growing approximately at 6 percent annually worldwide – the emerging economies of Asia, Eastern Europe and Middle East are fueling a rapid increase in demand. To support this growth, Dow Polyurethanes is forging strategic local partnerships, such as Dow Izolan, making investments in new production facilities (Mumbai, India) and increasing raw materials capacity (China). “Having local presence and building intimate knowledge of our customers’ applications and services needs are basic business principles within Dow Polyurethanes,” said Pat Dawson, president for Dow Polyurethanes. “Backed by our leading technology capabilities and local raw materials sourcing enables us to cost-effectively deliver customized solutions that comply with local regulations, be it for construction panels in China or cast elastomers for automotive applications in Europe.” Dow Polyurethane Systems’ extensive experience in urethane chemistry and product formulation – and the resulting capability to innovate – is continually being enhanced in the two dedicated PU research and development centers in the United States and Europe (Italy). Through a global network of 16 system houses and 7 services centers, the business is able to meet the specific needs of customers in their local geographic region. Also, as part of whole Dow organization, the business benefits from the latest in science discoveries and developments made in Dow’s labs across the globe and imparts the knowledge into all customer interactions. Dow PU Systems is a leading global polyurethanes solutions provider, with 23 facilities located across Europe, Asia, Middle East, and North and Latin America, where it develops high-performance, differentiated polyurethanes system solutions for customers in a broad range of industries such as building and construction, transportation, and oil and gas; and end-use applications such as elastomers, appliances, footwear, and furniture. About Dow Polyurethanes Dow is the world’s largest producer of propylene oxide, polyether polyols, and a leading producer of quality aromatic isocyanates, such as MDI and TDI. Dow’s polyurethanes products and formulated systems are used in rigid foams, flexible foams, adhesives, sealants, coatings and elastomers, as well as many other applications. Dow also offers the latest in polyol technology with its VORANOL™ VORACTIV™ polyols, part of an ongoing initiative by Dow to lead the industry in providing high-performance products with reduced volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. For more information, visit www.dowpolyurethanes.com, www.pusystems.com and www.voractiv.com. About Dow
®™* Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") or an affiliated company of Dow For Editorial Information: Annalisa Gianantonio Kellie Nolan |
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