SAFECHEM to launch a new chlorinated solvent brand: MECTHENE™ MC – The Alternative Cleaning Solution

Düsseldorf, Germany - October 19, 2009

Dow/SAFECHEM to launch a further chlorinated solvent brand on parts2clean show in Stuttgart, Germany: MECTHENE™ MC methylene chloride formulation as the alternative cleaning solution for industrial parts cleaning.

SAFECHEM Europe GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, is an experienced provider of chlorinated and non-chlorinated solvents for more than seventeen years. Customers especially appreciate the extensive services and consultancy offer along the entire life cycle of the solvent.

In the last years requirements in the industrial cleaning market have changed. New regulations, new quality standards and industry commitments require new solutions. Trichloroethylene is the preferred solvent for high precision surface cleaning and degreasing in critical applications and the use should be limited to applications where it is essential to fulfill the required cleaning results. In some applications like in the aerospace and aeronautic industry or for the production of safety parts, trichloroethylene is indispensable. SAFECHEM enables the long term and sustainable use by applying active risk management measures to protect people and the environment.

Based on long-time experiences experts are convinced that chlorinated solvents are the best technology for high quality cleaning due to their high solvency power and efficiency. With adequate tools for active risk management chlorinated solvents are the ideal solution for industrial parts cleaning. To provide customers with an additional alternative to trichloroethylene which meets their individual cleaning requirements, beside DOWPER™ MC perchloroethylene and DOWCLENE™ modified alcohols, Dow and SAFECHEM decided to invest into the development of a new methylene chloride brand for the industrial cleaning market: MECTHENE™ MC - The alternative cleaning solution.

MECTHENE™ MC is a highly stabilized, pure and virgin methylene chloride grade from Dow, the world's largest producer of chlorinated solvents. It is used in a variety of surface cleaning applications like ferrous, non-ferrous- and light metals. MECTHENE™ MC is one of the few methylene chloride based formulations certified for cleaning of aluminum and is approved by the BAM Institute, the German Institute for Material Testing in Berlin. Due to the very high solvency power of MECTHENE™MC it presents a viable alternative for cleaning applications where the use of trichloroethylene is not essential. MECTHENE™ MC is a low boiling solvent and does not require time for cooling prior to post processing.

MECTHENE™ MC is biodegradable and does not deplete the ozone layer. Its impact on smog formation, green house effect and acid rain is considered to be negligible.

MECTHENE™ MC is available in the closed loop SAFE-TAINER™ system for the safe and sustainable handling of solvents including the supply and take-back. Together with closed cleaning equipment the SAFE-TAINER™ system represents Best Available Technology and fulfills basically all environmental and regulatory requirements.

Customers can benefit from additional services like the MAXICHECK™ test kit for monitoring the solvent on-site, MAXISTAB™ stabiliser concentrate and laboratory services like detailed oil compatibility and solvent analysis. The CHEMAWARE™ knowledge platform provides intensive know-how from many experts being part of the SAFECHEM Service Alliance. Services as intensive solvent trainings and consultancy complete the offer.

With MECTHENE™ MC Dow and SAFECHEM enlarge their chlorinated solvent product portfolio and thus can ideally meet individual requirements from customers.

For further information, please contact:

Christine Lissy
Email : c.lissy@safechem-europe.com
Phone: +49 (0)211 4389-300
Fax: +49 (0)211 4389-389

About SAFECHEM

SAFECHEM Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company is an experienced provider of services and solutions related to the safe and sustainable use of solvents in industrial cleaning. With offices in Düsseldorf and Paris, SAFECHEM serves in close cooperation with a network of responsible distributors over 6,500 customers across Europe. SAFECHEM is committed to the principles of Responsible Care® and Product Stewardship and develops additional business models and services like Chemical Leasing for the sustainable and innovative use of chemicals.

Further information on SAFECHEM and the closed-loop SAFE-TAINER™ system is available on the SAFECHEM website at www.safechem-europe.com. Expert know-how around the entire cleaning process is available via the information platform CHEMAWARE™ under www.chemaware.org.

About Dow

®™^* Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") or an affiliated company of Dow

For Editorial Information:

Christine Lissy
The Dow Chemical Company
+49 (0)211 4389-300

®™^* Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") or an affiliated company of Dow