Collins & Aikman Introduces AcT Technologies for Acoustically Tuned Interiors

    TROY, Mich.--Feb. 8, 2001--Collins & Aikman Corporation today introduced AcT(TM) Technologies -- a new family of materials and products engineered to be acoustically tuned to meet specific vehicle sound management requirements. By applying Collins & Aikman's innovative tuning matrix of materials and process capabilities, AcT(TM) Technologies offer customers unique flexibility in solving vehicle acoustic challenges. Furthermore, AcT(TM) Technologies maximize value for automotive manufacturers by also providing them with weight and cost savings while providing optimal acoustic performance.
    "The AcT family of technologies offers a wide range of product solutions that have been engineered so that they can be `custom tuned' to meet specific vehicle profiles and provide our customers with integrated, high-quality and acoustically optimized vehicles," said Graham Tompson, Senior Vice President of Collins & Aikman's Global Product Development Division (GPDD). "We're extremely excited about the application of these new products. Extensive validation has demonstrated impressive results in acoustic performance and weight reduction, such that I believe these products present the most cost effective automotive acoustic offerings in the marketplace today. Collins & Aikman's goal is for the AcT Technologies family to continue to expand, and hopefully become the industry standard for acoustic excellence."

    The AcT(TM) Technologies include:

    AcTfoam(TM) is an extremely lightweight polymer-based foam material that can offer up to a 70 percent weight reduction while maintaining NVH performance. AcTfoam offers superior acoustically tunable absorption or transmission loss capabilities by controlling the polymer composition and bulk density recipe. In addition to the weight advantage, other desirable benefits include higher elongation, tensile and tear properties to meet complex contour applications and the added benefit of being 100 percent recyclable.
    AcTfiber(TM) is Collins & Aikman's proprietary blend of highly engineered inter-locked synthetic fibers custom tuned for sound transmission loss and absorption applications. By using Collins & Aikman's exclusive tuning matrix to control process and material parameters, AcTfiber provides a highly effective and efficient noise control solution, up to a 50 percent weight reduction of alternative lightweight product offerings available, and is cost competitive. In addition to the weight savings advantage, AcTfiber can be customized to specific vehicle acoustic targets, is 100 percent recyclable, and will perform consistently throughout the lifecycle of the vehicle.
    Commenting on the marketing opportunities to Collins & Aikman's customers, Steve Jeske, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing -- North American Automotive Interior Systems noted, "We have received an outstanding response from Collins & Aikman's customers during the development phase of these products. With our AcT(TM) technologies, Comet(R) acoustic software, world class facilities and excellent associates around the world, more and more global automotive manufacturers are approaching Collins & Aikman for solutions to improve the acoustic performance of their vehicles. As trends for in-vehicle telematics and systems integration continue, we believe that the need for outstanding acoustic performance will also increase. As demonstrated by our strong commitment to developing new, industry leading technologies such as those in the AcT family, Collins & Aikman is better positioned than ever to grow its global acoustics business."
    The continuing development of the AcT family of technologies is being conducted at nearly all of the Company's 12 technical centers, with lead development occurring at Collins & Aikman's Plymouth, Michigan Technical Center, which houses the largest hemi-anechoic testing chamber of any Tier One supplier in North America. The Company's efforts in global product development allow for technology sharing and the acceleration of new product development to market application, and the Company anticipates that additional AcT(TM) Technologies and products will be introduced later this year.
    Collins & Aikman, with annual sales approaching $2 billion, is the global leader in automotive floor and acoustic systems and is a leading supplier of automotive fabric, interior trim and convertible top systems. The Company's operations span the globe through 63 facilities, 13 countries and over 15,000 employees who are committed to achieving total excellence. Collins & Aikman's high-quality products combine industry-leading design and styling capabilities, superior manufacturing capabilities and the industry's most effective NVH "quiet" technologies. Information about Collins & Aikman is available on the Internet at www.collinsaikman.com.