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2007-08-27 Manufacturing News Source

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GE Plastics acquires automotive glazing systems JV

GE Plastics completes JV buyout of remaining shares of advanced glazing systems to the automotive industry Exatec from Bayer MaterialScience.

Bayer MaterialScience, Leverkusen, Germany, is to transfer the Joint Venture (JV) EXATEC shares to GE Plastics, Pittsfield, Mass., US. Exatec, LLC which provides advanced glazing systems to the automotive industry has a technical development center in Wixom, near Detroit, MI and a European subsidiary based in Bergisch Gladbach near Cologne, Germany. GE Plastics will acquire Bayer’s 50 percent share of the JV, thereby increasing its equity interest in Exatec to 100 percent.

With this decision, Bayer MaterialScience has opted to carry out its own independent development of polycarbonate automotive glazing, a market that is set to enjoy future growth. EXATEC was founded in 1998 as a 50:50 JV between Bayer and GE with the aim of developing technologies to produce automotive glazing systems from polycarbonate. The collaboration was instrumental in introducing polycarbonate to the market of automotive glazing. With immediate effect, Bayer MaterialScience will provide all customers with ongoing development of technologies for polycarbonate glazing and the tailor-made plastic Makrolon*.

Transaction details were not disclosed and the terms of the deal are subject to regulatory approval.

"GE and Bayer were the first to enable the use of polycarbonate glazing technology in vehicles. Exatec has advanced the development of glazing with its patented coating system through aggressive testing against rigorous performance criteria. With the demand for lightweight, environmentally responsible vehicles projected to grow globally over the next few years, the time is right to restructure the JV and take it to the next level of commercial development,” said John Madej, President and CEO, Exatec, LLC.

Dr. Günter Hilken, head of the Polycarbonates Business Unit at Bayer MaterialScience, said: "In the next few years, Bayer MaterialScience anticipates fast growth in the potential applications for polycarbonate, particularly in the market for large panorama roofs. Several manufacturers are already confident of the advantages of our high-tech Makrolon, for example Mercedes, who are using it in the roof module of the GL-Class, and smart®, who are deploying it in the panorama roof of the new fortwo®." Hilken added that, in the medium and long term, the freedom of design offered by the material, its weight saving and the opportunities it provides for integration mean it can also be used for rear windows, and open up further areas of application within the automotive industry.

Madej of Exatec added, “This is a great transition for Exatec. We started out with the support and development expertise of the two premier polycarbonate manufacturers, and now we are excited to move forward with the industrialization of our business as a wholly-owned entity. This is the right move at the right time and is a win-win for our current and future customers and our supplier partners.”

Exatec's automotive glazing system covers all processes and manufacturing steps, including molding with added functionality, 3D printing, decoration technologies, and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) hardcoats.

The wholly owned Exatec will continue to serve its customers across the globe in developing advanced glazing technology applications.

Bayer MaterialScience, one of the world’s largest polymer companies, will proactively develop and expand its automotive glazing business independent of the JV.

* Makrolon is a registered trademark of Bayer MaterialScience.

Read a recent press release about - Global supplier of plastics resins, GE Plastics, reaches agreement regarding termination of their Japanese joint ventures.

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