Soliant Fluorex(R) Bright Film Shines with Two Awards at SPE Thermoforming Conference

LANCASTER, S.C., Oct. 30, 2006 -- Soliant Fluorex(R) bright film enabled winning entries in two categories at the 16th Annual SPE Thermoforming Parts Competition in Nashville on September 16-20th. Both the Automotive Award and the People's Choice Award were bestowed for the industry's first plastic and metal commercial bumper made possible with Soliant Fluorex(R) bright film that mimics chrome.

Hendrickson Bumper and Trim received the Automotive Award and the People's Choice Award for their thermoformed bumper end caps made with Soliant's Fluorex(R) bright film combined with TPO from Solvay Engineered Polymers, Inc. Profile Plastics Corporation thermoformed the parts with tooling supplied by Portage Casting & Mold.

Soliant's Fluorex(R) bright film gives the end cap a Class A finish with a chrome appearance without the expense and environmental issues of electroplating. It also makes the bumper end cap more durable and rust resistant than plating on plastic or metal. When combined with TPO, added impact resistance is achieved making the Fluorex bright film and TPO combination ideal for bumper applications.

"Soliant's Fluorex(R) bright film is the most stunningly beautiful and most sought after product in the automotive market today," claims an exhibitor at the SPE Thermoforming Conference. Jeff Zawacki, Vice President of Marketing for Hendrickson Bumper and Trim, recognized the value and opportunities of the film early on and secured exclusive rights to private label the film under their Aero Bright(R) line of bumpers in the heavy truck market.

Winning the Automotive Award and the People's Choice Award by an overwhelming majority of votes, according to industry sources, are shining examples of how Soliant's Fluorex(R) bright film is enabling quality innovation for customer needs.

Soliant Fluorex(R) bright films provide a shiny chrome finish to plastic parts with different chrome finish options like black chrome, matte chrome and brushed chrome. Soliant Fluorex(R) bright film is available in a myriad of colors, and can be tinted to match any color, giving OEMs and Tiers the ability to achieve multiple looks with the same tool and process. The cost savings that can be achieved in manufacturing, design flexibility and the increased chip resistance inherent in the film and the impact resistance qualities achieved when it is combined with TPO are driving innovative applications.

Other optimal uses for Soliant Fluorex(R) paint and bright film in automotive include nameplates and badges, fascias, grilles, rocker panels, body side moldings, roof strips, pillars, roof modules, door handles, interior touch points, bezels, instrument panel rings and more. In addition to having excellent adhesion to TPO, Soliant Fluorex(R) bright film is also formable (will not crack) with PC, PVC, ABS and PC/ABS. Soliant Fluorex(R) bright film resists weathering, is fluid resistant, chip resistant, easy to clean, and recyclable. There are no VOC compliance costs. There are numerous additional applications for Soliant Fluorex(R) bright film in a broad array of industries including marine, consumer electronics, construction, apparel, home furnishings and more.

Soliant has a 20-year history as a producer of paint film products and are capable of covering all decorated surfaces. Soliant has produced over 1,400 different colors to date. Uni-, metallic or pearlescent colors are available to the same standards as current spray-paint systems.

OEMs are showing a greater interest in paint film because it is environmentally sound and cost effective on parts that are thermoformed, injection molded and extruded. Soliant was awarded the 2006 SPE GPEC award for emerging technologies, demonstrating significant VOC reductions with film versus sprayed paint. Over 40 million parts with Soliant paint film are in the field over the past 5 years without issue. Their paint film products are used by all OEMs on numerous vehicle models.

Soliant is headquartered in Lancaster, South Carolina with sales offices in Detroit, and The Netherlands. The company has an R & D facility in Lancaster developing products to meet growing market demands and support customers. For more info contact:

  John H. Cupstid, Marketing Director
  Soliant, LLC
  1872 Highway 9 Bypass, Lancaster, SC  29720
  803.313.8222 or call TOLL FREE PHONE: 800.288.9401
  FAX: 803.313.8331
  http://www.paintfilm.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos available via teri@intuitgroup.com