Invision Soft-Touch Elastomers Receive GM Approval as PVC-Free Alternative

DETROIT--May 7, 2002--A. Schulman Inc.announced today that it has received approval by General Motors for a portfolio of various Invision(TM) soft-touch polyolefin compounds. Invision(TM) products with durometer values ranging from 60 Shore A to 75 Shore A have been designated as mainstream materials by GM for upcoming programs. A. Schulman is in the process of submitting higher and lower durometer materials for approval.

"Invision(TM) provides one of the most cost-effective solutions to meet our OEM customers' PVC-Free initiatives," said Jane Maselli, marketing manager for A. Schulman's Interior Systems. "Our Soft-Touch materials offer the aesthetics and tactile feel that OEM stylists and designers demand," said Maselli.

Terry L. Haines, president and CEO, said, "A. Schulman's global perspective and presence ensures the company's ability to offer support for Invision(TM) to global companies, such as General Motors, and to tailor the Invision(TM) portfolio to specific market needs on global platforms."

Invision(TM) offers original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) a high-quality, high-performance alternative to PVC compounds for use in a wide range of automotive interior components. The Invision(TM) product portfolio focuses on injection molding compounds for applications such as armrests, assist handles, console lids, shifter knobs and others. Compounds are available for extrusion and blow molding applications.

"Our OEM customers have launched PVC-free automotive interior initiatives and we have responded with Invision(TM)," said Maselli, "A. Schulman is committed to offering customers a diversified product portfolio that anticipates and responds to specific customer needs and provides product choices and strong product support from a single-source provider."

A. Schulman technical specialists have a comprehensive knowledge of PVC applications, including part performance requirements, molding operations, tooling design and systems. They use this knowledge base to shorten the customer's learning curve and critical time-to-market by helping customers smoothly and seamlessly integrate the new compounds into their design and manufacturing operations.

Invision(TM) soft-touch polyolefins resulted from extensive research and represent the latest in A. Schulman automotive innovations dating back to the early 1960s. Invision(TM) addresses market demand for PVC-free compounds that are soft and leather-like in texture without sacrificing scratch resistance, weatherability, colorability, moisture resistance and other critical performance characteristics.

Additional features of Invision(TM) soft-touch polyolefins include:

Low gloss Low fogging Odor-free Excellent chemical, oil and stain resistance Excellent melt flow and color stability Excellent adhesion to polypropylene-based substrates Superior low temperature toughness and ductility. The compounds are 100% ductile at -40 degrees C when tested per ASTM D3763 (multi-axial impact) at 6.7m/sec & 8.9m/sec Low specific gravity (0.90). Recyclability with olefinic-based systems Non-hygroscopic qualities that eliminate the need for pre-drying before processing ABOUT A. SCHULMAN

A. Schulman is a leading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds and resins, which are used as raw materials in a variety of markets. The Company's principal product lines consist of proprietary and custom-formulated engineered plastic compounds, color concentrates and additives that improve the appearance and performance of plastics in a number of specialized applications.

A. Schulman has technology centers in North America and Europe devoted to new product development and color research. The Company's manufacturing facilities have their own product testing and quality control laboratories to ensure timely delivery of high-quality products to A. Schulman's global customer base.

Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, A. Schulman employs approximately 2,400 employees And has 13 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, Mexico and the Asia-Pacific region. A. Schulman stock is quoted through the Nasdaq National Market System (Symbol:SHLM).

Revenues for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2000, were $1 billion. Additional information about A. Schulman can be found on the World Wide Web at www.aschulman.com.