Henkel Unveils New Adhesives and Sealants Technology Center

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich., Dec. 15, 2005 -- Henkel recently announced the opening of its new Adhesives and Sealants Technology Center, which provides crucial expertise and testing resources to transportation manufacturers and suppliers.

"From computer-based design to real-world simulation, the new Adhesives and Sealants Technology Center offers OEMs and tiered suppliers fast, convenient access to Henkel's unrivaled technical experts and testing capabilities," said Chuck Evans, vice president, automotive, Henkel. "No other adhesive supplier can boast such a wealth of application and testing know-how, chemistry knowledge, design expertise and computer simulation to solve complex customer problems -- from car body to powertrain."

The 65,000 square foot facility provides complete research and development support for new Henkel products including body, trim and powertrain adhesives and sealants along with paint applications. The center also offers research and testing that helps Henkel's portfolio of existing products more effectively meet customers' constantly evolving needs. One key component of the facility is the ability to work side by side with customers' engineering teams, helping to enhance component designs by using Henkel's full prototyping and application testing capabilities.

The newly opened center offers a diverse array of advanced equipment and capabilities including:

  *  Fatigue testing to determine long-term durability of parts and
     materials.
  *  Dynamic fracture drop towers to test impact resistance.
  *  Several quasi-static, load-testing systems.
  *  Extreme environment cycling equipment to test materials' reaction to
     significant changes in temperature and moisture.
  *  Thermal analysis explores how materials react to heat exposure.
  *  Six-axis robotic dispensing stations that validate whether sealants and
     adhesives meet production requirements.
  *  Rheological test capability.
  *  Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to
     provide computer modelling to optimize design before prototypes are
     built.
  *  Prototype capabilities help refine component designs before production.
  *  Material applications lab.
  *  Additional acoustical testing capabilities are planned for the future.

Henkel's portfolio of testing, research and simulation technologies provide customers with essential support by ensuring materials and designs meet the highest standards in terms of durability, function and productivity.

"Henkel's $8 million investment to build and equip this new facility once again demonstrates our innovation leadership, customer dedication and commitment to the transportation industry," said Evans. "By bringing all of Henkel's transportation knowledge together in one location, it enables us to deliver even more innovative solutions through collaboration."

The new center increases the size of Henkel's technical campus in Madison Heights to 350,000 square feet.

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 Loctite(R), Teroson(R), Autophoretic(R), Bonderite(R), Frekote(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."