Sittard, the Netherlands – May 28, 2010 – With the new PP random copolymer SABIC® PP Qrystal, SABIC significantly increases the competitive edge of converters, enabling them to offer new levels of optical performance in their products while making energy savings during production.

SABIC® PP Qrystal is a random copolymer that was recently developed with both the final product and the process in mind.

On the one hand, it is highly transparent and offers good antistatic properties. As such, it meets the precise demands of markets such as injection molded houseware, office and home storage, lids and cap & closures. The levels of transparency and gloss make the resulting products highly competitive on the shelf.

But converters are also discovering its remarkable energy-saving properties, as it can be processed at significantly lower temperatures than comparable grades, offering savings of as much as 15%. Part aesthetics are not affected by the lower temperatures, providing for a broader operating window. So SABIC® PP Qrystal provides converters with the opportunity to differentiate themselves while also offering better margins.

SABIC® PP Qrystal is one of a range of innovative new products being developed by SABIC. It is available in two grades, SABIC® PP QR673K with an MFI of 25, and SABIC® PP QR675K with an MFI of 60. In addition to devoting its resources to the ongoing research and development of the grades, SABIC is committed to the commercialization of our random copolymer grade family thanks to our increasingly broad product portfolio.

About SABIC

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) ranks among the world’s top six petrochemical companies. The company is among the world’s market leaders in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene and other advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilizers.

SABIC recorded a net profit of SR 9 billion (US$ 2.4 billion) in 2009. Sales revenues for 2009 totaled SR 103 billion (US$ 27 billion). Total assets stood at SR 297 billion (US$ 79.2 billion) at the end of 2009.

SABIC’s businesses are grouped into Chemicals, Polymers, Performance Chemicals, Fertilizers, Metals and Innovative Plastics. SABIC has significant research resources with six dedicated Technology & Innovation Centers in Saudi Arabia, Europe, the USA and India.. The company operates in more than 40 countries across the world with 33,000 employees worldwide.

The company has 19 world-scale complexes in Saudi Arabia. Elsewhere, SABIC manufactures on a global scale in the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. SABIC’s overall production has increased from 35 million metric tons in 2001 to 59 million metric tons in 2009.

Headquartered in Riyadh, SABIC was founded in 1976 when the Saudi Arabian Government decided to use the hydrocarbon gases associated with its oil production as the principal feedstock for production of chemicals, polymers and fertilizers. The Saudi Arabian Government owns 70 percent of SABIC shares with the remaining 30 percent held by private investors in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

About SABIC in Europe

In Europe, SABIC has 13 world-scale production facilities which manufacture innovative plastics, polyethylenes, polypropylenes and chemical products. Throughout Europe, SABIC employs approximately 6000 people.

The main European offices for three of SABIC’s strategic business units are located in The Netherlands - Innovative Plastics (Bergen op Zoom), Polymers (Sittard) and Chemicals (Sittard). They operate an extensive network of local sales offices and logistical hubs throughout Europe which are also responsible for the sales of products manufactured elsewhere in the world.

SABIC’s European research facilities form part of the global Technology and Innovation organization and can be found in the Netherlands (Geleen and Bergen op Zoom) and Spain (Cartagena).

Media Notes

• As an acronym, SABIC should be all caps whenever it appears in print.
• ® Trademark of SABIC

Box 6
2950 Kapellen
Belgium
0031164317000

This release was published on openPR.