Dow Rolls Out Polyurethane Backings in Europe

Dalton, GA - February 02, 2006, For more than 30 years, The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) has delivered innovative polyurethane carpet backing products to the North American market. Now the company is making the jump across the Atlantic. Dow announces the launch of its polyurethane carpet backing in the European market, introduced at January’s Domotex show in Hanover, Germany. Carpet mills in Europe can now offer their customers the best in performance, durability and style by using Dow polyurethane systems for their carpet backings.

DOW™ ENHANCER™ Technology1 and ENFORCER™ Technology provides commercial broadloom and tile carpet with superior stability, enduring look and long life. The company’s polyurethane backing systems can also be applied to synthetic turf, which is a major product for European carpet mills. Turf backed with Dow polyurethane technology allows for improved safety, comfort and durability. When compared to latex backing traditionally used in Europe, Dow polyurethane products offer carpet mills a multitude of benefits, including: speed of production, low coating weight, and improved dimensional stability and physical properties of the product.

“For years, the North American carpet industry has experienced the high performance benefits of backings made with Dow polyurethane technology,” said Scott Lowrie, Business Manager for

Dow Polyurethane Floor Coverings Group. “We’re looking forward to expanding the Dow polyurethane business by introducing it to European carpet mills, who will in turn be able to provide their customers with the same level of quality, function and beauty we’ve come to expect in commercial carpet here in the U.S.”

“This is the perfect time to introduce Dow polyurethane carpet backings to the European market,” said Peter Mackey, European Business Development Manager for PU Flooring. “With the need for higher performance in commercial carpet combined with the strong growth in the European turf market, we knew the time was right for a better backing product on the continent. Over the years, Dow has perfected its polyurethane formulating capabilities, resulting in a much more efficient manufacturing process for the mills and a superior product for the end-customer.”

European carpet producers can now take Dow backing products for a test drive. By signing up for the Dow demonstration multi-component mixing machine, any carpet producer in Europe can experience firsthand the application of Dow polyurethane backings. The machine, manufactured by Hansa Industrie-Mixer, can be used on the mill’s own coating line on a free trial basis and can later be purchased from the supplier. Before the machine is taken to a mill for demonstration, a trial will take place in the lab using the mill’s carpet. Parameters will be determined and saved, so when the machine arrives at the mill it is ready for use.

For more information on Dow’s polyurethane carpet backing programs in Europe, please visit us online at www.dowcarpetbackingseurope.com. To find out more about Dow’s polyurethane technology in the North American market, visit www.dowcarpetbackings.com.

Dow is a diversified chemical company that harnesses the power of science and technology to improve living daily. The Company offers a broad range of innovative products and services to customers in more than 175 countries, helping them to provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. Built on a commitment to its principles of sustainability, Dow has annual sales of $46 billion and employs 42,000 people worldwide. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.

®™* Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow
1 To offer these benefits, ENHANCER Technology must be used together with a polyurethane pre-coat.

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Janet Hansen

Dow Chemical Company

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