---

Solvay Automotive Chief Exec to Speak at IBEC Conference

24 August 1999

Solvay Automotive Chief Exec to Speak at IBEC Conference

    TROY, Mich., Aug. 24 -- Solvay Automotive President and CEO
David Westgate will speak atthis year's International Body Engineering
Conference & Exposition (IBEC) regarding the "Competition of Materials in
Future Markets," at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 28 at Cobo Center (Room
W1-54) in Detroit, Mich.  Westgate made the announcement today.
    IBEC is the only event in the world that focuses solely on automotive body
engineering and manufacturing -- both for interior and exterior applications,
which Westgate will discuss with regard to cost and weight reduction,
materials processing, safety and other issues.  TheConference is hosted by the
Society of Automotive Engineers International.
    "The IBEC Conference is a great forum to bring industry minds together to
share best practices and other ideas that benefit the entire automotive
industry," Westgate said.
    SOLVAY is the world leader for the production of high-density polyethylene
fuel systems.  In 1998, sales recorded by SOLVAY's Automotive Strategic
Business Unit were about EUR560 million (USD 650 million).
    The Solvay Group, which includes Solvay Automotive, is an international
chemical and pharmaceutical group based in Brussels (Belgium).  Solvay Group
companies employ 34,000 people in 46 countries.  The Group's 1998 annual sales
were (USD) 9.6 billion, generatedby its market leading activities in each
ofits four sectors of activity: chemicals, plastics, processing and
pharmaceuticals.