DSM quadruples production capacity for Stanyl® ForTii™

Heerlen, NL, Royal DSM N.V., the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company headquartered in the Netherlands, today announces that it will quadruple production capacity for Stanyl® ForTii™ in order to meet market demand for this new polymer, which is used in electronics and other applications.

Stanyl® ForTii™, formerly known as PA4T and developed by DSM Engineering Plastics, is the first new polymer introduced in the new millennium. It meets market trends that call for miniaturization and the convergence of electronic devices.

Nico Gerardu , member of the DSM Managing Board and responsible for DSM’s Performance Materials cluster said: “Just over a year ago the market development plant opened and this capacity expansion is another significant step forward in the development of this unique material. It also shows that DSM continues to invest in innovation.”

Gart Kostermans, Business Manager Stanyl® and Project Director Stanyl® ForTii™ of DSM Engineering Plastics added: "Positive results of the ongoing market development of Stanyl® ForTii™ as well as recent advances in research and development have enabled a faster ramp-up of production capacity than previously envisaged. Despite the current difficult economic conditions, market acceptance of Stanyl® ForTii™ has not slowed.”

It is expected that the output of the existing Stanyl® ForTii™ plant in Sittard-Geleen (NL) will quadruple by the end of 2009 to enable DSM to meet further growth in customer demand for the product, which can be found in mobile phones and other electronic applications such as circuit boards used in personal computers.

Stanyl® ForTii™ is a halogen-free, flame-retardant, high-temperature polyamide. It extends the application range of current Stanyl® products and helps customers to achieve a higher performance in their applications. It supports lead-free soldering and is suitable for even the most demanding surface mount technology applications in electronics.

DSM Engineering Plastics
DSM Engineering Plastics is one of the world’s leading suppliers of engineering thermoplastics, with a permanent focus on innovation. Most recently, DSM Engineering Plastics introduced the first new polymer of the 21st century: Stanyl® ForTiiTM. DSM Engineering Plastics delivers Living Solutions: materials that support a durable vision of people, planet and profit for customers who design or produce electrical applications, electronic equipment, cars, barrier packaging films as well as many mechanical and extrusion applications. DSM Engineering Plastics offers a broad portfolio of high-performance materials, including Akulon® 6 and 66 polyamides, Arnitel® TPC, Arnite® PBT and PET polyesters, Xantar® polycarbonate, Yparex® extrudable adhesive resins and Stanyl®, global market leader in high-heat polyamides. DSM Engineering Plastics, with sales in 2008 of EUR 761 million and 1500 employees worldwide, is part of the Performance Materials cluster of DSM. More on: www.dsmep.com.

Akulon®, Arnite®, Arnitel®, Stanyl®, Stanyl® ForTii™, Xantar® and Yparex® are registered trademarks of Royal DSM N.V.