Henkel Technologies and West McLaren Mercedes join forces in Formula One

Adhesives come into their own at U.S. Grand Prix

INDIANAPOLIS, June 18 -- When the Formula One teams gather at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on June 20 for the United States Grand Prix, the new West McLaren Mercedes MP4/19 racing car will include more than 90 adhesives and sealants from Henkel Technologies.

West McLaren Mercedes and its two top-caliber drivers, Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard, are taking part in the battle for the 2004 drivers' and constructors' championships. Henkel Technologies is an Official Supplier to this successful team, further extending the former association with the Loctite(R) brand that began in 1995. The new agreement puts more technologies and more know-how at the team's disposal.

Extreme demands placed on both man and machine are common in this global event, due to the widely varying racetracks and climates. As a technical partner to West McLaren Mercedes, Henkel Technologies' mission is to meet the challenges of the Formula One environment and to assist the West McLaren team in gaining as many Grand Prix victories as possible.

A Formula One race car with more than 90 adhesives and sealants applications

Henkel Technologies is just as much at home in the hi-tech league as it is in the aerospace industry or in the production of passenger vehicles. Henkel is utilizing this know-how on a worldwide scale in one of the toughest applications encountered in vehicle construction - Formula One racing. As Official Supplier, engineers from Henkel Technologies work closely with designers from McLaren Racing to help them meet the extreme challenges that Formula One imposes on components and materials. To date, Henkel Technologies' invaluable expertise has resulted in 92 different applications put to the test at every Grand Prix event.

Whether it's in the assembly of the car, on the engine, or in the manufacture of the carbon fiber chassis itself, Henkel Technologies' applications are used. The fuel flap mechanism which opens automatically when the speed limiter is engaged on entrance to the pit lane depends on Loctite(R) 222 low-strength threadlocker. This is used to prevent the tie-rod end from vibrating loose and to guarantee that the fuel flap opens perfectly in preparation for the pit stop. Loctite(R) 222 is totally vibration proof but allows for disassembly when the system needs to be dismantled and then reversed to suit left or right hand circuits.

Since the car is designed to maximize aerodynamic efficiency and performance, at the rear end of the car the exhaust is fitted very closely to the gearbox. To prevent any heat damage, titanium heat shields are bonded to the side of the gearbox using Loctite(R) 5399 moisture-curing silicone adhesive/sealant, which resists high temperatures.

Adhesives allow the aerodynamicists to create new shapes that are then bonded together, since fastening parts with traditional mechanical methods would be impossible. Hysol(R) aerospace adhesives are used extensively in the laminating and assembly of the carbon fiber composites - to bond the outer carbon fiber layer to the underlying honeycomb elements for example - while Frekote (R) mold release agents ensure that the carbon fiber components do not stick to the molds in which they are formed.

Driving for victory with Henkel Technologies

Martin Whitmarsh, Managing Director, McLaren Racing, knows only too well how important speed and reliability are in the Grand Prix context. Whitmarsh succinctly describes the philosophy of the racing team and the challenges of Formula One: "If you want to win, you need the best car with the best engineering expertise. However, we ourselves are unable to cover the full bandwidth of all the technologies required to tackle our problems. That is why we need strong specialist partners who, through their experience, their products and their technologies, are able to support our drive for victory in Formula One. Therefore, our partnership with Henkel Technologies is very important to us."

Among the highlights for Henkel and McLaren since 1995 are the double victory in both the drivers' and the constructors' championship in 1998, victory in the drivers' championship in 1999, and the runner-up spots in both championships in 2000 and 2001.

"Henkel - A Brand like a Friend". With brands and advanced technologies, Henkel makes people's lives easier, better, and more beautiful. The Henkel Technologies division is one of the leading suppliers of adhesives, sealants and surface treatments for industrial customers. Strong brands, such as Loctite, Teroson, P3, Hysol and Liofol, are key drivers behind the success of the business division. Henkel Technologies serves the automotive, electronics, aerospace, metal industries, assembly, maintenance and repair, consumer goods and packaging industries worldwide.

The Henkel Group operates in three strategic business areas - Home Care, Personal Care, and Adhesives, Sealants and Surface Treatment. In fiscal 2003 the Henkel Group generated sales of 9.44 billion euros and an operating profit (EBIT) of 706 million euros. 50,000 employees work for the Henkel Group worldwide. People in 126 countries around the world trust in brands and technologies from Henkel.