SABIC Invests in Lexan* Multiwall Sheet Capacity in India to Expand Customer Access to Advanced Roofing and Glazing Materials

CHENNAI, India – May 25, 2012 – Today at Roof India 2012 SABIC’s Innovative Plastics business is once again demonstrating how it is powering the long-term commercial success of its customers with the announcement of a capacity investment in India. Specifically, the company will open a state-of-the-art Lexan* multiwall sheet production line at its Vadodara, India manufacturing facility to provide customers in the country and the greater Asia with a fast, reliable source of these high-performance materials. This new line will help meet rising customer demand in the region for SABIC’s high performance Lexan Thermoclear* multiwall polycarbonate (PC) sheet products used for roofing and glazing in the building & construction and greenhouse sectors.

The new Lexan multiwall sheet production line strengthens SABIC’s already extensive capabilities in the region, which include a local team of expert technologists and a complete supply chain and distribution organization. This investment further demonstrates SABIC’s commitment to creating and supplying tailored solutions to fit its customers’ specific needs to help them effectively compete and grow in their markets with world-leading capabilities.

“The new Lexan Thermoclear sheet line showcases how SABIC delivers its broad portfolio to virtually all regions of the world so customers can benefit from faster lead times and expanded supplies to support commercial and residential construction projects,” said Sanjiv Vasudeva, South Asia Sheet and Film Business leader, Innovative Plastics. “The high performance, beautiful aesthetics and design freedoms provided by Lexan multiwall sheet have been demonstrated around the world in major structures – from stadiums to rail stations – and showcase how SABIC continues to passionately challenge the status quo to find better ways to serve its customers.”

India’s vibrant economy is achieving 7 to 9 percent growth per year(1), driven by extensive infrastructure investment and development, especially in the commercial and industrial roofing sectors – such as airports, rail stations, metro rail, bus stations, malls and hospitals. The new line at Vadodara is an outgrowth of SABIC’s culture of ingenuity and will produce high-quality two-sided ultraviolet (UV)-protected Lexan Thermoclear multiwall sheet in clear and custom colors targeting roofing, glazing and cladding applications.

State-of-the-art Production Facility

The expanded Vadodara facility features world-class quality assurance processes, including a unique UV-protective coating system as well as cap layer measurement and color measurement systems. The plant is strategically located next to SABIC’s specialty and performance plastics compounding lines to drive rapid application development and custom color options.

Lexan Multiwall Sheet Products Are Proven Worldwide

Lexan Thermoclear multiwall sheet products are versatile thermoplastic glazing materials that have been used in roofing, cladding and glazing for more than 30 years.
Lexan Thermoclear sheet is significantly lighter in weight than glass while offering high stiffness and more than 250 times the impact resistance of glass to reduce the risk of breakage from wind, hail, and other extreme weather, as well as vandalism.

Lexan multiwall sheet also illustrates how SABIC continues to develop new industry standards with top-end glazing materials that deliver measurable return on investment through ease of installation; lower insurance costs due to weather damage; and less need for replacement due to UV degradation, weathering, and breakage.

For additional information on SABIC’s Lexan multiwall sheet products, please go to www.sabic-ip.com. For technical product inquiries, please contact us at www.sabic-ip.com/prtechinquiry.

(1) CIA World Factbook

About Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) ranks among the world’s top petrochemical companies, and is a global market leader in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene, advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilizers. SABIC manufactures with a global footprint in Saudi Arabia, the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. The company operates in more than 40 countries across the world with 33,000 employees worldwide. It has significant research resources with 18 dedicated Technology & Innovation facilities in Saudi Arabia, the USA, the Netherlands, Spain, India and China. SABIC recorded a net income of SR 29.21 billion (US$ 7.79 billion) in 2011, and sales revenues totaled SR 190 billion (US$ 50.67 billion).

About Innovative Plastics
SABIC’s Innovative Plastics strategic business unit is a leading, global supplier of engineering thermoplastics with an 80-year history of breakthrough solutions that solve its customers’ most pressing challenges. Today, Innovative Plastics is a multi-billion-dollar company with operations in more than 35 countries and approximately 9,000 employees worldwide. The company continues to lead the plastics industry with customer collaboration and continued investments in new polymer technologies, global application development, process technologies, and environmentally responsible solutions that serve diverse markets such as automotive, electronics, building & construction, transportation, and healthcare. The company’s extensive product portfolio includes thermoplastic resins, coatings, specialty compounds, film, and sheet. Innovative Plastics (www.sabic-ip.com) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC).

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* Trademarks of SABIC Innovative Plastics IP B.V.
SABIC is a registered trademark of SABIC Holding Europe B.V.

Kevin Noels
Marketing Solutions
Lelyweg 6
4612 PS, Bergen op Zoom
The Netherlands

This release was published on openPR.