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Textron Automotive Co - Trim Division Wins Award for Aliphatic TPU

19 November 1998

Textron Automotive Company - Trim Division Wins SPE Materials Category Award for Aliphatic TPU

            Innovative TPU Featured in Chrysler Instrument Panels

    TROY, Mich., Nov. 18 -- Textron Automotive Company announced
today its Trim Division has won the 1998 Materials Category Award from the
Automotive Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) for its
innovative aliphatic thermoplastic urethane (TPU) instrument panel featured on
the Dodge Intrepid, Chrysler Concorde, LHS and 300M models.
    This revolutionary, award-winning material, Texin(R) DP7-3014, is the
result of several years of research and co-development between Textron
Automotive Company and Bayer Corporation.  The dedicated efforts of this
long-standing, working relationship enabled the unleashing of a dynamic, new
product to the global automotive industry.
    "We are able to offer a whole new range of possibilities to the auto
industry," said Jeff Rose, Vice President, Technology for Textron Automotive
Trim.
    "Making IP skins with Texin(R) allows designers to incorporate undercuts,
returned edges and multiple grains using cast molding," said Rose.  "On top of
that, Textron Automotive Trim developed a proprietary 'mini-bead' process that
results in better molding overall."
    The material's flexibility to produce skins with existing cast-IP skin
equipment, and keep compatibility with conventional IP construction,
fabrication, and finishing technologies, has allowed for styling freedom
unattainable from spray urethane and vacuum forming processes.  Texin(R)
DP7-3014 provides Textron Automotive Company the ability to supply Chrysler
Corporation a lightweight, more durable IP skin that incorporates
the latest seamless passenger side air bag door technology.
    Aliphatic thermoplastic urethane offers several considerable advantages:
significantly increased durability of the IP skin over PVC, with improvements
in both long-term heat aging performance and solar energy exposure; 15% weight
savings over current PVC compounds; extended temperature range (-40 degree F
to 210 degree F) of the IP skin for safer air bag deployments; chlorine-free
content and enhanced recyclability; and reduced interior glass fogging.
    The award was presented at the SPE's 28th annual awards banquet held at
the Detroit Westin Hotel.  Seventy nominations in seven categories (Chassis,
Body Interior, Powertrain, Body Exterior, Process, Environment, and Materials)
were submitted for the 1998 awards program; 27 finalists were selected.
    Textron Automotive Company Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc.
, is a worldwide manufacturer of automotive interior/exterior trim
and functional components with annual sales in excess of $2 billion.
    Textron Inc. is a $10 billion, global, multi-industry company with
market-leading operations in Aircraft, Automotive, Industrial and Finance.