Noble Polymers Introduces Polypropylene-Based Nanocomposite For Auto, Furniture and Appliance Industries

Replacement for glass-filled polypropylene lighter, stronger and more environmentally friendly

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Dec. 22 -- Automotive seating, furniture and appliance components will be lighter, more cost effective and more environmentally friendly in the future -- thanks to a new nanocomposite resin developed by Noble Polymers, LLC.

The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based supplier of specialized plastic compounds and resins today announced the commercial launch of Forte(TM), a proprietary nanocomposite engineered by Noble Polymers to serve as a greener, more cost effective substitute for traditional materials such as glass-filled polypropylene. The innovative nanocomposite will be commercially available to plastic molders in January 2004.

Noble said it spent two years developing Forte in conjunction with Grand Rapids, Mich.-based injection molder Cascade Engineering, Inc. The nanocomposite is designed to serve as a substitute for resins that contain large amounts of fillers such as glass, or where the performance advantages of Forte are required.

Engineered at a molecular level, Forte has been developed to create compounds that offer superior mechanical properties, as well as improved quality and reduced visual defects. In research and testing conducted by Noble and Cascade Engineering, Forte consistently improved the strength and lowered the overall weight and cost of parts. Noble said Forte also offers plastic molders enhanced "green" qualities, with improved recycleability and reduced amounts of filler content.

"Forte is a prime example of our efforts to focus on break-through technologies that can have a significant impact for molders, OEMs and consumers," said Taher Abujoudeh, Cascade Engineering's director of materials engineering. "This nanocomposite revolutionizes the way products will be designed by lowering part weight and enhancing properties."

Glass-filled polypropylene often causes problems during processing, such as difficulty with tooling, visual defects and warping. Forte is a polypropylene-based nanocomposite that was developed as a replacement for the glass-filled polypropylene, immediately improving the strength and overall weight of the part, as well as lowering the cost.

"We want to be known as the company willing to tackle tough problems and find the right solutions," said Tim Patterson, head of Noble Polymers. "Forte enables us to improve the performance of multiple components in multiple industries, while benefiting the environment and helping us better serve our customers."

About Noble Polymers: Noble Polymers is a leader in high-performance resin compounds and plastics solutions. The Company is dedicated to making their community involvement a benchmarking model for others in the industry. In addition to offering compounds and resin materials that accommodate specific customer requirements, the company also specializes in material selection, integrated design analysis and empirical testing. Noble Polymers' combination of service and expertise allows customers to develop solutions from conceptualization to final part production. The Company is based in Grand Rapids, Mich.

About Cascade Engineering: Cascade Engineering is a leader in engineered plastic systems and components. The company provides innovative expertise and intelligent solutions for the transportation, container and commercial markets. The company produces components for OEM customers as well as Cascade Engineering branded products. Cascade Engineering is widely recognized for innovation in material development, engineering and manufacturing, in addition to its management practices. The Cascade Engineering Family of Companies employs more than 1,200 people -- approximately 750 in the Grand Rapids area.