Ashland introduces POLARIS® resins to Europe at JEC Show in Paris

DUBLIN, Ohio – POLARIS brand resins for cast marble, solid surface and engineered stone are being introduced to the European marketplace customers by Ashland Composite Polymers, a business group of Ashland Performance Materials, a division of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH). POLARIS resins are consistent and versatile, allowing manufacturers the flexibility to meet their processing requirements and demanding customer needs.

“We are unifying our successful products for cast marble and solid surface in the U.S. and our products for engineered stone in Europe under the POLARIS brand,” said Magnus Johansson, industry manager for Ashland’s European building and construction market. “The success we have found in our POLARIS resin technology in the U.S. is now available for manufacturers in Europe. POLARIS resins signify quality and consistency and stimulate creativity with their flexibility, allowing custom shapes and designs beyond the mold in the case of solid surface.”

Tests conducted by Ashland show POLARIS resins offer low water absorption, low-color and high-filler loading capacity. Used in solid surface applications, product produced with POLARIS resins meet the ANSI Z124.6 solid surface standard and are the tough, low-color backbone in a homogeneous system so that scratches, burns, or nicks can be easily sanded and buffed to restore the original finish.

Ashland Composite Polymers is a leader in supplying products, processes and technologies to the global marketplace for composites and gelcoats.

Ashland Performance Materials is a worldwide manufacturer and supplier of specialty chemicals and customized services to the building and construction, packaging and converting, transportation, marine and metal casting industries. It is a technology leader in metal casting consumables and design services; unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins and gelcoats; and high-performance adhesives and specialty resins.

Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), a diversified, global chemical company, provides quality products, services and solutions to customers in more than 100 countries. A FORTUNE 500 company, it operates through four wholly owned divisions: Ashland Performance Materials, Ashland Distribution, Valvoline and Ashland Water Technologies. To learn more about Ashland, visit www.ashland.com.