News Release:

Vi-Chem Expands Plastics Line 
to Enhance Performance of Automotive Interiors

Grand Rapids, Mich., 9-28-01 –  Hate it when the inside of your car windows develop a ‘foggy film’?  So do automakers – and the suppliers who make parts for them. 

Vi-Chem Corp. is tackling the problem by expanding a proprietary line of plastic compounds to include a series of formulations designed to reduce the effects of weathering and enhance the performance of interior automotive parts.  The Grand Rapids, Mich. manufacturer of colored plastic compounds said that the Sevrene® 3000 Series of thermoplastic elastomers, or TPEs, will offer automakers superior performance compared with vinyl systems and other thermoplastic that are currently on the market.

 “The auto industry continues to look for ways to enhance the functionality of its interior parts, particularly when it comes to the areas of fogging and weathering,” explained Leonard Slott, vice president and general manager of Vi-Chem.  “While our current line of vinyl products all meet or exceed industry requirements, this new line of Sevrene TPEs provides a ‘next generation’ solution to weather-related issues, such as fog resistance and UV stability.”

 The Sevrene 3000 TPE Series is a styrenic block copolymer-based thermoplastic elastomers.  Vi-Chem will utilize its 20-plus years of in-house, color-matching expertise to provide pre-colored products in this series for use in interior parts such as armrests, head rests, grab handles, door pulls, shift knobs and console covers.  A companion line of products, called Interionä TPE, is designed for slush molding of door and instrument panels.

 “As an automotive mastering source, we have been color matching plastic to exterior automotive metallic paint precisely for years, so providing accurate, interior weatherable pre-colored Sevrene TPEs will be a ‘walk in the park,’ ” said William Greer, sales and marketing manager for Vi-Chem.  “This series also provides a nice dry feel, or ‘hand,’ for enhanced customer aesthetics, as well as the required scratch, wear, stain and tear resistance that automakers demand, without the need for topcoats.”

Vi-Chem Corp. is a leading producer of thermoplastic elastomers and vinyl compounds for the automotive, office furniture, building and construction, and other industries.  Additional information on Vi-Chem is available at www.vichem.com or by contacting Vi-Chem’s customer service department at either custserv@vichem.com or (800) 477.8501.

For Further Information Contact William K. Greer at Vi-Chem: wgreer@vichem.com

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