Henkel Provides Real World Experience to Students at 2005 Formula SAE

DETROIT, April 11 -- As a gold sponsor of this year's Formula SAE, Henkel is supporting several university teams, providing real world experience for future automotive innovators, as well as gaining feedback on the original use of the company's products.

The goal of this competition is to develop high-performance prototype cars that are cost effective, easy to maintain and reliable. In addition, the cars should be enhanced by other factors such as aesthetics, comfort and use of common parts. As a sponsor, Henkel not only offers quality materials, but also provides technical advice and product input as the teams design and assemble cars for the May 18-22, 2005 competition.

Further increasing its support and participation in the event, Henkel is sponsoring a cash award for the most creative use of its Terocore(R) structural foam. The machinable nature of Terocore allows teams to use the foam as both a reinforcement and precisely tailored part. Students are encouraged to use Terocore in the initial vehicle design, rather than to make improvements after the vehicle is built. For example, the 2004 University of Utah Formula SAE team used Terocore as a support material between the suspension system and chassis, ensuring a stronger body and preventing flexing in high-speed turns.

"We are proud to help mentor the next generation of engineers," said Matthias Hofmann, vice president, marketing and business development, Henkel. "The Formula SAE competition provides students with hands-on experience, enabling them to develop the knowledge and expertise necessary to succeed in the automotive industry."

In addition to providing product samples and technical support, Henkel gains valuable benefits from the program. Henkel establishes strong relationships with Formula SAE students on the brink of their careers. And, future automotive innovators also test existing sealants, materials and adhesives under gruelling Formula One race conditions and provide honest feedback and valuable insight into future product needs.

"Henkel introduced and explained various applications and uses of its products," said Sumeet Yerunkar, assistant captain and president of Wayne State University Formula SAE team. "By using these products we were able to reduce the weight of the car while maintaining stiffness, drastically improving performance."

Aside from the technical expertise students gain by asking questions, teams receive industry leading materials from Henkel including:

* Terocore structural foam: Filling vehicle cavities with structural foam improves structural strength and rigidity, which improves handling and increases safety by enhancing energy absorption in crashes. Terocore also helps reduce noise, vibration and harshness by blocking and absorbing sounds that pass throughout the vehicle body.

* Hysol(R) E-120HP epoxy adhesive: Originally designed for bonding nose cones in aerospace applications, this adhesive delivers outstanding results in bonding composite-to-metal or metal-to-metal joints. It delivers a 12-minute work life, allowing teams to properly position a component before the adhesive sets. The adhesive also cures at room temperature, eliminating oven-bake time and expense. Under extreme testing performed by the University of Utah Formula SAE team, the bond using E-120HP proved stronger than metal by maintaining its hold even after the metal tube broke.

* Frekote(R) mold release: Applying Frekote to a tooling surface enables easy removal of molded parts after they have cured. Frekote can release anything from simple rubber to intricate, polymer composite parts. Formula SAE teams can design advanced structural parts with confidence, knowing their hand-made components will separate from the mold.

* Loctite(R) threadlockers: Applied to a bolt prior to assembly, threadlockers prevent loosening under vibration or losing clamp load over time.

Teams are encouraged to use these materials in unconventional ways, going beyond traditional applications.

Formula SAE is a competition for SAE student members to conceive, design, fabricate and compete with small formula-style racing cars. The restrictions on the car frame and engine are limited so that knowledge, creativity and imagination of the students are challenged. The cars are built with a team effort over a period of about one year and are taken to the annual competition for judging and comparison with approximately 120 other vehicles from colleges and universities throughout the world. The end result is a great experience for young engineers in a meaningful engineering project as well as the opportunity of working in a dedicated team effort.

Henkel is the market leader in adhesives, sealants and surface treatments to the transportation industry. Backed by extensive design capabilities, a broad product range, specific application knowledge and technical expertise, the company delivers solutions to all segments of automotive development -- automotive body, interior, chassis, electronics and powertrain production. Through powerful brands like Autophoretic(R), Bonderite(R), Frekote(R), Loctite(R) and Multan(TM), Henkel provides significant economic and environmental advantages for today's vehicles, making them safer, more comfortable and extending vehicle value.

The Henkel Group operates in three strategic business areas: Home Care; Personal Care; and Adhesives, Sealants and Surface Treatments. The automotive group is an integral part of the Adhesives, Sealants and Surface Treatments business sector, which also serves the transportation, electronics, aerospace, metal, durable goods, consumer goods, maintenance and repair and packaging industries, and offers a broad range of products for the craftsman and consumer. With brands and advanced technologies, Henkel makes people's lives easier, better, and more beautiful. 50,000 employees work for the Henkel Group worldwide. People in 125 countries around the world trust in brands and technologies from Henkel -- "A Brand like a Friend."