Sittard, the Netherlands - June 7, 2010 - Shorter cycle times, lower energy costs, increased downgauging possibilities; the SABIC® PP Flowpact range of impact copolymers has proven a success in the market, with further extensions to the range foreseen for Q4 2010.

The SABIC® PP Flowpact range of polymers were designed to provide major benefits to converters, particularly in thin wall packaging. Foremost among these is the ability to make cost savings in terms of unit production costs and energy savings with further knock-on benefits for related environmental considerations.

SABIC designed the range specifically to improve conversion economics while also enhancing product design and performance. The most enthusiastic responses came from the high end food packaging sector. "It is definitely very appealing to special applications," says International Account Manager Albert Walter. "The basic attraction is the way it converts." Flowpact grades offer converters shorter cycle times and lower energy costs with the added possibility of material downgauging and enables convertors to process even very demanding thin walled parts much more consistently. In production, the plastics offer easy mold filling and demolding as well as good rigidity and antistatic properties.

Broadening the range

Flowpact is a successful illustration of the SABIC polypropylene portfolio's policy of creating high added value products that work alongside the core bulk materials. The idea is to create a broader range of high-performance products that meet specific needs, opening up the possibility of one-stop shopping for PP packaging customers.

The success has led to new products being planned. These include a new impact copolymer SABIC® PP Flowpact FPC 100 grade. "This new grade will boast all the core Flowpact properties such as improved cycle times and lower energy consumption," explains Flowpact product champion, Diederik Goyvaerts, Technical Marketing Engineer. Commercial release is currently being finalized, and is foreseen in the last quarter of 2010."

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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).

As an acronym, SABIC should be all caps whenever it appears in print.

® Trademark of SABIC

SABIC media contact
Ger Peerboom
Corporate Communications
SABIC Communications Europe
The Netherlands
T +31 46 722 2207
E ger.peerboom@SABIC-europe.com

Solange Schlösser
Polyethylenes
SABIC Communications Europe
The Netherlands
T +31 46 722 2168
E solange.schlosser@SABIC-europe.com

Rachel Kundra
Polypropylenes and Chemicals
SABIC Communications Europe
The Netherlands
T +31 46 722 2399
E rachel.kundra@SABIC-europe.com

© Press Release 2010