Industry News (Week of 8/21/06)

DOW AUTOMOTIVE ADHESIVE NAMED AMONG TOP 100 TECHNOLOGIES BY R&D MAGAZINE

BETAMATE™ low energy substrate adhesive (LESA) from Dow Automotive has been selected by an independent panel of judges and editors at R&D Magazine as one of the 100 Most Technologically Significant New Products & Processes of the Year. The application showcasing the new technology is the Volkswagen Polo front-end carrier. BETAMATE LESA enables polyolefins and dissimilar substrates to be bonded without the use of pretreatment, thus saving time and money. The technology is used globally in the design and manufacture of automotive front-end carriers, addressing industry-wide requirements for cost and weight restrictions, stiffness, and pedestrian safety. Two 2007 model year vehicles, one an SUV and the other a crossover utility vehicle from a major North American manufacturer, will also feature bonded hybrid front-end carriers. Additional LESA applications currently in global development include instrument panels and liftgates.

For more information, visit http://www.dowautomotive.com .

HENKEL PROMOTES CRANE TO V.P. OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING

Henkel, Irvine, CA, has announced the promotion of Dr. Larry Crane to the position of vice president, Product Development and Engineering. With over 25 years of electronics industry experience, Crane has a broad knowledge of advanced materials engineering. In his previous 10 years with Henkel, he was instrumental in the engineering management of the company's leading-edge product development for PCB assembly and semiconductor materials. In his new role, Crane will retain his responsibilities for semiconductor materials management, overseeing operations in Irvine, CA, Isogo, Japan, Seoul, South Korea, and Singapore. He will also assume the management and materials development activities for the company's advanced facilities in Hemel Hempstead, UK, Yantai, China, and Yiangsu, China, as well as for Henkel's joint venture in Linyuangong, China, with Henkel Huawei Electronics.

For more information, visit http://www.electronics.henkel.com .

NATIONAL ADHESIVES NAMES CRAIL DIRECTOR OF PSA BUSINESS

National Adhesives, Bridgewater, NJ, has appointed Dietrich Crail business director of the company's Pressure Sensitive Adhesives business. Crail's job duties include responsibility for the overall business operating plan and strategy for the company's Pressure Sensitive Adhesives business. Prior to joining National Starch, Crail served as business director, Specialty Fasson Roll - North America, for Avery Dennison. In his prior positions, Crail has delivered a track record of successful results, strong customer focus, commercialization of new products through high-performance work teams and the effective use of the Six Sigma design process both internally and with customers.

For more information, visit http://www.nationalstarch.com .

SARTOMER APPOINTS NEW PLANT MANAGER

Sartomer Co., Exton, PA, has appointed Timothy R. Lineberry plant manager of its Chatham, VA, facility. Lineberry has been with Sartomer for more than eight years as a plant engineer in the Chatham facility, where he directed maintenance and engineering groups, was responsible for the plant-directed capital appropriations program, and was site contact for corporate engineering projects. Lineberry holds a bachelor's of science degree in mechanical engineering technology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA.

For more information, visit http://www.sartomer.com .

SIKA EXPANDS TO INCREASE PRODUCTION CAPACITY FOR POLYURETHANE ADHESIVE

Sika Corp. has announced plans to invest $17.8 million over the next two years to increase capacity for polyurethane sealant and adhesives production at its headquarters facility in Lyndhurst, NJ. According to William E. Loven, president and CEO, the investment will be made "to transform the factory into a focused polyurethane factory with up to 100% more capacity. In addition, we will be upgrading our equipment in order to increase manufacturing efficiencies and reduce costs. These moves will be undertaken to more efficiently serve our current Automotive Aftermarket Glass Replacement customers, as well as to position Sika to supply the North American Automotive OEM Direct Glazing market with our newest technology and manufacturing efficiencies." Existing powders and mortars manufacturing operations in Lyndhurst will be moved to other Sika locations or to certain alliance partners of Sika.

For more information, visit http://www.sikacorp.com .

SPECIALTY POLYMERS NAMES NEW TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Specialty Polymers Inc., Woodburn, OR, recently promoted Tom Sennhenn from technical manager of the company's South Carolina plant to technical director of the entire company. In his new role, Sennhenn wiil have companywide responsibility for the Polymer and Applications groups, as well as the Quality departments. Sennhenn earned a bachelor's of science degree in chemistry from Kent State University. He worked at Franklin International from 1976 through 1995, doing everything from emulsion acrylic and vinyl acrylic product development and technical service to running one of Franklin's businesses. Prior to joining Specialty Polymers, Sennhenn was a principle development chemist and group leader at Ashland Chemical in Columbus, OH.