SABIC Innovative Plastics and RheTech Inc. announce the
acquisition of the RheMax product line by SABIC Innovative Plastics

As part of an ongoing effort to reaffirm and further strengthen its long-term commitment to the North American auto industry, SABIC Innovative Plastics today announced its agreement to acquire the RheMax product line from RheTech, Inc., of Whitmore Lake, Mich. Under the terms of agreement, RheTech will be the toll manufacturer of SABIC Innovative Plastics' STAMAX* LGFPP (long glass fiber-filled polypropylene) resins, which were launched in North America in September 2008. This acquisition enables SABIC Innovative Plastics to immediately fulfill North American automotive OEM and tier product needs from local production.

"We believe the American automotive industry plays a pivotal role in the design and development of automobiles on a global basis. The expansion of STAMAX composite production in North America and the RheMax acquisition are key aspects of SABIC Innovative Plastics' growth strategy to further strengthen our position as a leading supplier and to meet the global specification needs of customers with local production," said Greg Adams, vice president, Automotive for SABIC Innovative Plastics. "Even during the current down cycle, SABIC Innovative Plastics continues to invest in products and services to ensure that our business is helping to increase the future global competitiveness of our customers. With the addition of STAMAX LGFPP composites to our already comprehensive product portfolio, our customers can benefit from an even greater array of materials to reduce costs, provide innovation and differentiate their vehicles from the competition."

"This is a win-win situation for both sides and customers," said John Levinson, president and COO of RheTech. "SABIC Innovative Plastics gains immediate North American product and production capability, the customers gain a global product and supply base and RheTech will reinvest and redirect its resources to develop new products and technology for the customers of its core polyolefins compounding business."

As a part of this agreement, existing RheMax products will be integrated under the STAMAX resin product line and brand name. Product formulations will be kept the same to ensure that STAMAX resin material properties and performance are maintained. The transaction includes only the RheMax product line. RheTech will continue to provide its other outstanding compounded polyolefin products and services to its customers.

STAMAX LGFPP resins offer a great balance of properties such as 10-25 percent lower density than traditional materials and hence lighter weight parts, better surface finish than short glass fiber products enabling molded-in-color, and processability.

Exceptional Benefits for Automotive Structural Applications
STAMAX LGFPP composites are made by combining a polypropylene (PP) base resin with long glass fibers. They offer excellent strength and dimensional stability, as well as high flow for thin-wall parts. These materials enable the design of applications that combine light weight with functional integration, including front-end modules (FEM), door modules, instrument panels, center consoles, underbody shields, seating systems, liftgates and tailgates.

These composites have been used extensively by European automakers to replace steel in key structural components. The majority of European cars incorporate on average five pounds of STAMAX LGFPP composite. Now these materials are available to North American automakers, offering lighter weight for fuel efficiency and emissions reduction, as well as system cost savings through design optimization and more-efficient production cycles.

For specific applications, STAMAX LGFPP composites offer the following advantages:
1) Front-end modules: By replacing steel, STAMAX LGFPP composites have the potential to reduce part weight significantly (from 13-15 lb/6-7 kg for steel to just 5-6 lb/2-3kg). They also open the possibility to develop a full composite FEM without metal reinforcement. 2) Instrument panels (IPs): STAMAX composites can reduce the overall thickness of IP carriers to 1.8 mm vs. 2.2 mm with traditional materials, resulting in weight reductions of 2-5 lbs (1-2 kg) per car. Another critical advantage is part integration. For example the integration of the airbag deployment chute in the IP carrier or the center console with the IP structure or partially integrate the cross car beam in the IP structure; are possibilities. 3) Tailgates and liftgates: Using STAMAX composite may reduce weight by nine to thirteen pounds (4-6 kg) versus steel and enable integration with Lexan* polycarbonate glazing to produce a lightweight and durable assembly. 4) Door structures: Compared to steel, STAMAX has the potential to reduce weight by up to nine pounds (4 kg).

STAMAX LGFPP composites are currently available through SABIC Innovative Plastics' Automotive commercial team across the globe.

SABIC Innovative Plastics in profile
SABIC Innovative Plastics is a leading, global supplier of engineering thermoplastics with a 75-year history of breakthrough solutions that solve its customers' most pressing challenges. Today, SABIC Innovative Plastics is a multi-billion-dollar company with operations in more than 25 countries and over 9,500 employees worldwide. The company continues to lead the plastics industry with customer collaboration and continued investments in new polymer technologies, global application development, process technologies, and environmentally responsible solutions that serve diverse markets such as automotive, electronics, building & construction, transportation, and healthcare. The company's extensive product portfolio includes thermoplastic resins, coatings, specialty compounds, film, and sheet. SABIC Innovative Plastics is a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), one of the world's top five petrochemicals manufacturers.

For further information, view website: www.sabic-ip.com    Refer to page 29

RheTech Inc. in profile
RheTech Inc. is a leading North American full service supplier of polyolefin-based compounds to the automotive, transportation, industrial and consumer market segments. RheTech's comprehensive product line, robust manufacturing capabilities and application driven approach provides customers with opportunities to realize the best overall material solutions. RheTech operates facilities in Michigan and Ohio and is headquartered in Whitmore Lake, MI.

For further information, view website: www.Rhetech.com

Schaeffler compact, sealed throttle valve bearings
improve safety and fuel efficiency of Dakar Rally vehicles

Vehicles competing in the forthcoming Dakar Rally 2010 will be equipped with specially sealed, compact throttle valve needle roller bearings manufactured by The Schaeffler Group.

These bearings are designed to protect the engine and withstand the pressure peaks that originate from the fuel combustion chamber. The specially sealed needle roller bearing is a key component in modern turbocharged engines, playing a vital role in exhaust gas recirculation, helping to improve engine efficiency and reduce fuel consumption.

These high precision throttle valve bearings are airtight in the event of both excess pressure and vacuum conditions. The seal on both sides of the bearing offers extreme resistance to high operating temperatures. Corrosion-resistant materials also ensure that the bearing is resistant to fuel, mineral oil, grease and acidic 'blow-by' condensate. Due to their integrated seals, the bearings can operate in temperatures from -40 deg C up to 150 deg C without any additional sealing.

Motorsport is often a breeding ground for the development of engine components, which are then adapted for more general use in automotive passenger cars. Following the first Dakar Rally in 1980, Volkswagen and Audi engineers developed the legendary Quattro drive, adapted from the Iltis, a German all-terrain military vehicle (better known as the European Polecat) which competed successfully in the Dakar Rally.

1980 also marked a very successful time for Schaeffler, as its engineers developed the first throttle valve bearing, a solution that prevented the fine Saharan dust particles from causing throttle valves to jam, causing the engine to seize. The solution was a specially sealed needle roller bearing with a compact design that has now long been considered a standard component in automotive manufacturing. This solution not only prevented defects on Dakar Rally vehicle engines, but also paved the way forward in terms of vehicle safety and fuel savings.

Today, the risk of a throttle valve jamming whilst it is open is a thing of the past. But it wasn't until low friction bearing supports were developed for the throttle valve shaft that idle engine speed could be reduced in a controlled manner. While idle speed often exceeded 1,000 rpm until the early 1980s, speeds today are as low as 600 crankshaft rotations per minute, resulting in significant fuel savings. These small but critical engine components have also enabled the implementation of electronic 'by-wire' throttle valve controls.

For further information on Schaeffler's range of condition monitoring systems, view website: www.schaeffler.co.uk    Refer to page 29

Cabin and plant carrier for Bedford Plant Hire

Truck Specialists Ltd. has engineered a versatile truck with a 50 tonne/metre crane for Bedford Plant, designed to transport either plant, building materials or cabins used mainly on construction sites.

The vehicle delivered to Bedford Plant is based on a DAF CF85-360 6.4m wheelbase 8 x 4 chassis, which was chosen because it offers excellent traction  on sites where roads have not yet been constructed.  It is fitted with an ACB  500-4 50 tonne/metre crane that can stack cabins two high and in order to achieve the necessary payload capacity, the crane sub-frame and bodywork is fabricated from high-strength Hardox steel supplied by Abba Commercials of St. Helens.

The vehicle had to be capable of carrying plant up to 12 tonnes and cabins 32 feet long, so Truck Specialists has equipped the body with telescopic ramps at the rear which can be extended to provide support for the long cabins as they are loaded.  The crane is operated by Scanreco Remote Control, while two pairs of hydraulic stabilizers ensure a stable platform.

When the vehicle is being used to carry plant, the rear section of the body tilts hydraulically and hydraulic ramps are extended to minimize the approach angle.  In addition, it is fitted with a hydraulically-driven winch so that any immobilized plant can be recovered easily.  A further feature is removable dropsides that allow the vehicle to transport building materials when it is not carrying cabins or plant.

Bedford Plant is part of the SDC, a regional construction and development group which undertakes projects ranging in value from £5k to £80m.  Activities cover all forms of construction and procurement in both the public and private sectors.  Bedford Plant Hire has a range of over 200 cabins, which are used to provide site accommodation for civil engineering and building contracts undertaken by SDC and other companies.  In addition the company supplies plant and equipment to a wide customer base.

Truck Specialists is the sole UK distributor for ATIB of Brescia, Italy and supplies the compete range of ATIB hooklifts and telescopic arm loaders together with sheeting systems, loadcells and drawbar attachments.  In addition to selling both new and used hooklifts and skiploaders, the company also offers contract hire.
Truck Specialists Limited  is a member of the Derby-based Skip Units Group, a privately owned limited company that also includes Skip Units, Randalls Compactors, Castle Containers and Waste Equipment Rentals. The company is the UK's largest independent manufacturer of containers.  For further information relating to this article, e-mail: info@skipunits.co.uk or view website: www.skipunits.co.uk