Solvay Advanced Polymers Unveils the SolvaSpire Family of Ultra-Performance Polymers

ALPHARETTA, Ga., Oct. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Solvay Advanced Polymers, L.L.C. today introduced its SolvaSpire family of ultra-performance polymers. These ultra polymers are typically defined by a combination of exceptional performance properties, including stiffness, strength, heat and chemical resistance, among others. While there are a handful of suppliers with one polymer in this category, Solvay Advanced Polymers' SolvaSpire family is the only portfolio comprised of five, fully developed ultra-performance products. The SolvaSpire family is:

"If you look at the evolving challenges design engineers face today," explained Chris Wilson, Global Business Director for Ultra Polymers, Solvay Advanced Polymers, "the trend is toward lighter, tougher, more 'customizable' alternatives to metals, ceramics and other composite materials. It's these drivers that are creating the demand for more options at the upper-most tier of the plastics performance pyramid. And that's why we have worked hard to create the SolvaSpire family, the broadest portfolio of ultra performance polymers in the industry."

The plastics industry has long been characterized in terms of a performance pyramid. At the base and in the middle are high-volume, lower- performing commodity and engineered polymers. At the top, are high performance polymers that deliver exceptional performance. However, driven by increasing demand for even more performance a fourth tier has emerged comprised of plastics that have multiple high-end properties in a single polymer. These "ultra performing" plastics deliver performance features that no other material can. And it is here where the SolvaSpire family resides.

About Solvay Advanced Polymers

Solvay Advanced Polymers produces more plastics with more performance than any other company in the world. This gives design engineers worldwide more ways to solve top design challenges in automotive, healthcare, electronics, aerospace and other demanding industries. Learn more about the full line of Solvay Advanced Polymers' SolvaSpire family of ultra polymers at http://www.solvayadvancedpolymers.com/.

About the Solvay Group

Solvay Advanced Polymers is a member of the Solvay Group, an international chemical and pharmaceuticals group headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. The Solvay Group, whose companies employ about 30,000 people in 50 countries, recorded consolidated sales for 2005 of EUR 8.6 billion, generated by its three sectors: Chemicals, Plastics and Pharmaceuticals. Solvay (Euronext: SOLB.BE - Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLBt.BR) is listed on the Euronext stock exchange in Brussels. Details are available at http://www.solvay.com/.