SUZHOU, China and ST. LOUIS, Sept. 21, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Solutia Inc. (OTCBB:SOLUQ) today celebrated the grand opening of its new plant in Suzhou, China. The plant is a manufacturing site for the company's Saflex(r) business. Saflex is the world's leading producer and seller of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayers. The Suzhou plant site is ideally suited for future expansion of Saflex and for other Solutia businesses.
"Solutia is committed to growth in China, and this new plant is a very significant symbol of that commitment," said Jeff Quinn, chairman, president and CEO of Solutia Inc. "While Solutia has made a number of major capital investments in its businesses through the years, this is the first entirely new plant we have built from the ground up. We will continue to devote substantial resources to seizing the growth opportunities in China across each of our businesses."
The plant has been developed as a full-scale facility that currently produces Saflex interlayer for the automotive market, with room for future capacity to serve the architectural market as well. The current manufacturing line is designed to produce approximately 10 million square meters of Saflex interlayer per year, with space for further expansion as market growth requires more capacity.
"Global demand for Saflex interlayers continues to rise around the world, especially in China," said Dr. Luc De Temmerman, president of Solutia's Saflex business. "This new plant improves our ability to serve the needs of laminators and glass fabricators serving the rapidly growing Chinese automotive industry and the broader Asia-Pacific markets. We look forward to collaborating with these customers, and believe the new Suzhou plant will support significant growth in the laminated glass market."
Saflex customers who participated in the opening ceremony included senior representatives from the Fuyao Glass Industries Group and Xinyi Glass Holdings Limited, as well as key representatives from major multinational customers and many Chinese laminators.
In addition to the Suzhou plant, Solutia's Saflex presence in the Asia-Pacific region includes a regional customer service center and finishing and distribution center in Singapore, as well as sales offices across the region. This infrastructure continues to provide the high level of logistical support and customer service that customers have come to expect from Saflex.
With 80 years of experience in developing glass interlayers, Saflex is the world's largest producer and seller of PVB interlayers, and is known as the global leader in PVB innovation, quality and reliability. When laminated between layers of glass, PVB interlayers greatly enhance the performance characteristics of glass, providing benefits such as security, solar protection, sound attenuation and safety. Laminated glass made with Saflex PVB is used extensively in both the automotive and architectural markets.
Note to Editor: Saflex is a registered trademark of Solutia Inc.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by the use of words such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "intends," "plans," "estimates" or "anticipates," or other comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. These statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions about the industries in which Solutia operates. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or achievements to be materially different from the future results or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in Solutia's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, under "Cautionary Statement About Forward Looking Statements," Solutia's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and in filings with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in connection with the Chapter 11 case of Solutia Inc. and 14 of its U.S. subsidiaries. These reports can be accessed through the "Investors" section of Solutia's website at www.solutia.com. The bankruptcy court filings can be accessed by visiting www.trumbullgroup.com. Solutia disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in response to new information, unforeseen events, changed circumstances or any other occurrence.
Corporate Profile
Solutia (http://www.Solutia.com) uses world-class skills in applied chemistry to create value-added solutions for customers, whose products improve the lives of consumers every day. Solutia is a world leader in performance films for laminated safety glass and after-market applications; and chemicals for the rubber industry; specialties such heat transfer fluids and aviation hydraulic fluid and an integrated family of nylon products including high-performance polymers and fibers, and chemicals for the rubber industry. Solutia ... Solutions for a Better Life.
The Solutia Inc. logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2620