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Saflex VP to Discuss Laminated Glass Safety Innovations At Safety Conference

4 February 2000

Saflex VP to Discuss Laminated Glass Safety Innovations At First Annual Plastics in Automotive Safety Conference

    ST. LOUIS, Feb. 4 -- Vicki Holt, vice president and general
manager of Solutia's Saflex business, will serve on an international
automotive safety panel discussion with several other industry experts at the
First Annual Plastics in Automotive Safety Conference, to be held Feb. 7 at
the MSU Management Education Center in Troy, Michigan.  Holt will speak about
the role Saflex plastic interlayer plays in heightening auto safety,
specifically through the growing use of Enhanced Protective Glass (EPG).
    EPG is laminated glass used for the side and rear windows and sunroofs of
automobiles to increase safety and security.  It provides protection against
occupant ejection in the event of an accident, as verified by NHTSA testing.
In addition, EPG offers protection from intrusion, unwanted traffic and
highway noise, and ultraviolet and infrared light.
    "I think we're going to see a continued increase in the emphasis on
automotive safety," said Holt.  "One that calls for partnerships between
several players in the industry -- OEMs and component suppliers and material
suppliers, for example -- to develop system solutions to meet customer demand
to continuously improve vehicle safety."
    Saflex is working with OEMs to incorporate EPG into their vehicles.  The
product already is available as standard or optional equipment on some Audi,
Mercedes, Peugeot, BMW and Volvo vehicles.  "We see EPG not as a competitor of
other safety features, such as side airbags, but as complementary," said Holt.
"It's like adding an alarm system in your home even though you have adequate
locks -- either one will address part of the need, but you only get the
maximum benefit from using the two together in a system solution."
    The panel discussion on global automotive safety is scheduled for 4-6
p.m., and will be followed immediately by a press conference.  Others
scheduled to participate on the panel include industry experts from AutoLiv,
DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety, NHTSA, Siemens Automotive, and TRW.  The
conference is sponsored by the Society of Plastics Engineers, Automotive
Division.

    St. Louis-based Solutia Inc. had sales in 1999 of approximately $3 billion
and is organized around three main franchises:  Performance Films (including
polyvinyl butyral for laminated glass and other glass films); Specialty
Chemicals (including resins and additives for automotive, industrial and
specialty applications, aviation hydraulic and heat transfer fluids and
detergent chemicals); and Nylon (including chemical intermediates, fibers for
carpet, apparel and industrial uses, and nylon plastic and polymers).  Solutia
employs 10,850 employees worldwide and operates facilities in North America,
Europe, South America and Asia.
    For more information, visit the Saflex Web site at http://www.saflex.com, the EPG
application Web site at http://www.Saflex-autoglass.com , or the Solutia Web site at
http://www.solutia.com .