--- New products serve the Automotive, Electronics, and Consumer & Industrial Goods industries;

--- Highlights include Technyl® A205F, a new Brazil-developed technology that will help customers save more energy; a new range of halogen-free Technyl® products for the photovoltaic industry; Evolite by Technyl®, a new range of high-performance composites that will open up a world of innovations for both designers and users;

--- Rhodia increases the capacity of its Brazilian site in São Bernardo do Campo.

May 9th, 2011 – The force of innovation is geared towards meeting the competitiveness needs of customers in line with engagement in sustainable development. These were the hallmarks of Rhodia Engineering Plastic's attendance at Brasilplast 2011, the 13th International Plastics Industry Fair, one of the largest global industry events.

Under the banner of A World of Solutions, Rhodia showcased a number of new Plastic Engineering technologies and products. The four theme areas at Rhodia´s stand clearly identify the company´s commitment to adding value to its customers:

• "Proximity is strength": emphasizing how customers benefit from Rhodia´s global presence and local force;

• "Effectiveness is value": introducing products and services that reduce time-to-market and increase the competitiveness of customers;

• "Life is a Cycle": introducing innovations that are geared towards environmental and recycling issues;

• "Innovation is in the air": unveiling Rhodia´s latest innovations oriented towards the production of parts that combine lightness and high performance.

"Our Production, R&D, Sales, and Technical Support teams operate in tune with the industry's chain of production to identify opportunities and create solutions to meet market demands," claimed Rhodia Engineering Plastics & Polymers Latin America Director Marcos Curti.

Rhodia´s polyamide-based engineering plastics and polymers are mainly used for manufacturing parts for the Automotive, Transportation, Electronics, Construction, and Consumer & Industrial Goods industries. The Rhodia Group, one of the global leaders in this industry, has manufacturing units and application development laboratories in four continents. Rhodia´s Brazilian plant and laboratory are based in São Bernardo do Campo (São Paulo State).

MARKET INNOVATIONS
Rhodia is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) as one of the highest-performing global chemical companies in social and environmental responsibility and it considers sustainable development as a source of innovation and a key element in growth strategy.

In the last few months, Rhodia showcased several major polyamide Engineering Plastics innovations, including the Technyl® eXten bio-based polyamide, 4earth™ recycling solutions, Fuel'In by Technyl® for fuel contact applications, and Technyl® Super Impact for metal replacement.

Novelties showcased at Brasilplast 2011 included the following:
--- A new generation of Technyl® Star™, called A205F, was developed in Brazilian laboratories and will help customers gain productivity and cut energy costs in their production processes significantly;
--- A new range of halogen-free Technyl® products for the photovoltaic industry;
--- Evolite by Technyl®, a revolutionary thermoplastic composite that will open up a world of innovations for designers and users;
--- New polyamide powders that will challenge the limits of quick manufacturing of plastic parts.

Rhodia´s growth aspirations in the engineering plastics industry are strongly based on sustainable innovation and on its presence in fast-growing, profitable markets. Rhodia´s Engineering Plastics Global Business Unit (GBU) has a strong presence in the global market and is particularly well positioned in fast-growing geographies: around 38% of its sales come from Asia and 18% from Latin America.

"Our leading positions, coupled with our strong presence in fast-growing geographies, will allow us to achieve future market growth," claimed Rhodia Engineering Plastics President François Hincker. "Within this context, our commitment to sustainable innovation increases our ability to create value significantly," he added.

Source: Rhodia