GE Expands Capability to Deliver Custom Silicone Rubber Products to Latin America with Expansion of Itatiba Facility

Will Help Customers Lower Production Costs and Accelerate Time to Market


ITATIBA, Brazil, May 9, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- GE - Advanced Materials, Silicones today announced the expansion of existing facilities at its Itatiba plant in Brazil for the development and production of silicone rubber products, customized to help Latin American companies in the automotive, power transmission, health care and other industries lower their production costs and accelerate time to market.

By establishing a dedicated Latin American production and development facility, GE - Advanced Materials, Silicones will be able to collaborate more closely with customers in Brazil and other Latin American countries to reduce the time it takes to develop customized silicone rubber products, test them at the customer's facility and then manufacture and deliver the final product. Customers also will benefit from production costs that are lower in Brazil than in the U.S. and other regions.

"With the growth of demand for our specialized silicone rubber products in Latin America, we realized the time was right to invest in capabilities that could help customers in the region better leverage GE's custom application development and production expertise," said Tim Angle, America's marketing and application development manager for RTVs and Elastomers, GE - Advanced Materials. "The silicones development and production facility in Itatiba will strengthen our ability to rapidly create and deliver silicone rubber compounds that meet the specific requirements of companies in Latin America."

Until now, manufacturing of custom silicone rubber products for the Latin American market has been performed at GE's U.S. facilities. Moving production and development to Itatiba will make it possible for GE and its customers to eliminate the time and expense of importing and exporting materials between the U.S. and countries in Latin America.

The Itatiba facility will be focused on producing materials for automotive gaskets and O-rings, high voltage insulators for the power transmission industry and products for the health care industry. The GE Silicones Itatiba facility is currently delivering custom silicones products for companies in Brazil and will soon be delivering products for companies in Chile and Colombia. The company is targeting the Argentinean and Venezuelan markets for later this year.

GE Silicones offers an expansive portfolio of heat-cured elastomers (HCEs), liquid silicone rubbers (LSRs), and room temperature vulcanization materials (RTVs) that provide a range of viscosities, curing mechanisms and performance qualities.

About GE - Advanced Materials

The Advanced Materials business of General Electric Company is part of the Industrial business group and is headquartered in Wilton, Conn. Comprised of Silicones and Quartz, GE - Advanced Materials is a global leader in providing a range of high-technology materials solutions. The GE - Advanced Materials, Silicones portfolio includes silicone-based products and technology platforms, silanes, sealants and adhesives. The Quartz portfolio includes high-purity fused quartz and ceramics materials. These materials solutions are used as springboards for innovation in hundreds of consumer and industrial applications ranging from car engines and integrated circuits to biomedical devices and cosmetics. Industries served include aerospace, agriculture, appliances, automotive, construction, electronics, furniture and furnishings, healthcare, home care, industrial, lighting, packaging, personal care, plastics, semiconductor, telecommunications, tire, transportation, and water purification. As a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Games, GE is the exclusive provider of a wide range of innovative products and services that are integral to a successful Games. Experience more at www.ge.com/advancedmaterials.



            

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