Gastank Sweden AB obtains certification for new Type IV CNG cylinders using VORAFORCE™ composite systems from Dow

Glass fiber composite cylinders offer attractive cost-benefit ratio and weight
advantages for natural gas vehicles

PITEÅ, SWEDEN / HORGEN, SWITZERLAND – February 27, 2013 – Gastank Sweden AB obtained the certificate according to UN ECE R110 regulation for its new Type IV Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cylinders for motor vehicles. Using Dow’s composite resin technology together with HiPer-tex glass fiber from 3B, Gastank Sweden AB offers high-performing and cost effective pressurized gas cylinders to automotive, commercial transportation, and industrial areas.

Dow will showcase CNG cylinders from Gastank Sweden AB made with VORAFORCE™ TW systems at Stand P 14 during JEC Europe 2013 Composites Exhibition in Paris, March 12-14.

VORAFORCE™ TW toughened epoxy systems from Dow are designed to enable production of lightweight and durable composite cylinders with improved impact resistance, dynamic fatigue and low-temperature performance.

Professor Kurt Berglund, President of Gastank Sweden AB, states: “During several tests, the toughened epoxy systems from Dow showed excellent fiber wetting, reduced waste and gave high-quality final properties of the cylinders. Thanks to the long open time and features, the Dow solution allowed Gastank to optimize the winding process and fasten production, making our CNG cylinder solutions even more attractive to the industry.” Satisfied with these results and the successful UN ECE R110 qualification, Professor Berglund has expressed plans to pursue new projects with the Dow technology.

“In times when demand for natural gas vehicles is growing fast, Dow responds to the needs of the industry for light, strong and durable composite pressure vessels that enable better mileage and reduced emissions, replacing traditional metal cylinder tanks”, comments Francesca Pignagnoli, EMEA market manager for Industrial Composites at Dow.

Thanks to the powerful combination of VORAFORCE™ TW toughened epoxy system from Dow together with HiPer-tex high performance glass fibre from 3B, Gastank Sweden AB has now a state of the art benchmark solution composite pressure vessel in terms of lightweight, cost effectiveness and performance, meeting the stringent ECE R110 regulation.

®™Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow

About GASTANK Sweden AB
Gastank Sweden AB was quite recently founded, initially with Kurt Berglund's Company HFC Sweden AB as sole owner. Later on the Korean company Koast Co., Ltd also invested in partnership. The idea of Gastank Sweden AB is to produce and sell volume optimized gas tanks and systems for CNG and compressed biogas for cars. For more information, visit www.gastank.se

About 3B Fibreglass company
3B-the fibreglass company is a leading developer and supplier of fibreglass products and technologies for the reinforcement of thermoplastic and thermoset polymers. This dynamic and entrepreneurial company has three state-of-the-art fibreglass manufacturing facilities in Battice (Belgium), Birkeland (Norway) and Goa (India) as well as a dedicated R&D Centre located in the heart of Europe. 3B’s ambition is to be the thermoplastic reinforcement global leader, the wind energy solution provider and the business development partner for innovative composite applications. This growth agenda builds upon three strategic drivers that are sustainability, technological innovation and a global presence to most effectively service our international customers. The company is the only major fibreglass producer operating fully 100 percent boron-free glass fibre manufacturing platforms with ECR glass formulations delivering significantly improved corrosion resistance, improved stiffness, higher temperature resistance and longer service life. The company operates two unique eco-responsible and high performance glass technologies, HiPer-tex and Advantex glass in its European plants. These two well established brands combine durability with eco-responsibility and versatility, making them the materials of choice for a wide range of industries. With a sound foundation of unique assets, 3B is committed to designing reliable and durable fibreglass solutions available globally. For more information visit our new website: www.3b-fibreglass.com.

About Dow Formulated Systems
Dow Formulated Systems, a global business unit of The Dow Chemical Company (Dow), develops and markets fully-formulated polyurethane and epoxy systems. With tailor-made solutions it serves customers in a variety of industries to realize applications ranging from residential and commercial construction, infrastructure repair, and wind energy solutions, furniture, and shoe soles to decorative molding and athletic equipment. Striving to meet the specific needs of its customers in their local geographic regions, Dow Formulated Systems operates a global network of 30 systems houses and innovation centers.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2012, Dow had annual sales of $57 billion and employed approximately 54,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

For editorial information
Uta Ünal
Dow Horgen GmbH
Bachtobelstrasse 3
8810 Horgen
Switzerland
uuenal@dow.com

This release was published on openPR.