Award-Winning New Spray Paint Promises New Day in the Life of Plastics; Krylon Fusion Cracks the `Paint for Plastic Code'; is DIY Industry Breakthrough.

Business Editors

NOTE TO MEDIA: Multimedia assets available

A photo is available at URL:

http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.010703/bb2

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 7, 2003

For do-it-yourselfers, a spray paint for plastic is a dream come true. That's because, until now, painting plastic could be a nightmare. Even when applied to a primed and sanded surface, paint on plastic often `puddled' during application, resulting in a sticky, uneven mess. DIYers who persevered frequently found that after drying, the paint they had applied peeled off in sheets. While paints for plastic have been used successfully by industry for years, those formulations simply are not suitable for at-home application.

Now Krylon(R), the nation's leader in aerosol paints, is introducing a revolutionary spray paint for consumers that, with no priming, bonds securely to plastic materials, including outdoor furniture, children's toys, and vinyl fencing. Already Krylon Fusion(R) has received recognition from two leading consumer do-it-yourself magazines. The product earned a Popular Mechanics "Editor's Choice Award" and a HANDY magazine "Innovation Award" when previewed at the National Hardware Show, a home improvement industry trade show, in August.

"It's an honor to be recognized as an innovator by these two leading publications," says Justin Kalvitz, product manager, Krylon Hardware Products. More than three years in research and development, the new paint for plastic will be available beginning this month at hardware and home center stores and mass market retail locations including Wal-Mart, Ace, True Value, Hobby Lobby, Do It Best, Fred Meyer, Sears Hardware, and Sherwin-Williams Paint Stores.

The innovation has been long awaited by consumers. Consider the 1967 movie classic, "The Graduate," in which Benjamin Braddock, played by a young Dustin Hoffman, was advised to make his future in plastics. But until now, plastic was a tiger that couldn't change its stripes. Unlike wood, which can be quickly and easily rejuvenated with a coat of paint, most plastics are tossed in the trash heap when they become faded or dirt-stained, or when the color becomes outdated.

"After years of research, Krylon has pioneered this breakthrough in technology," says Hugo Sandberg, director of marketing, Krylon Retail Products Group. "The formulation is proprietary, but it is based on a resin additive previously used in another industry."

Available in 16 colors, Krylon Fusion forms a superior bond to all types of clean, dry plastic surfaces including ABS, polypropylene, polyethylene, PVC, vinyl, resin, and even ceramic, glass, tile, wood, metal, wicker and other hard-to-bond-to surfaces. The spray paint resists fading and chipping in outdoor exposure and yields an extremely durable, high-gloss finish and a fast, 15-minute dry time. It is safe for use on children's items.

According to Kalvitz, the product should help to grow the market for spray paint by increasing the number of surfaces on which it can be used. He says Krylon Fusion also can enhance consumer satisfaction with plastic purchases while extending the life and usefulness of these items, and possibly reducing the flow of plastics to landfills.

"In 2001, 101 billion pounds of plastic resins were produced in the U.S, according to American Plastics Council industry statistics," Kalvitz says. "With plastic resins replacing wood and metal for items ranging from shutters and fences to mini-blinds and patio furniture, the need for a paint that applies easily to plastic surfaces, and adheres reliably, is clear."

Kalvitz says consumers participating in market research were so enthusiastic when they saw the results produced by Krylon Fusion, they immediately began talking about where they would use it. The new spray paint creates endless opportunities to personalize with color or to revitalize faded or stained plastic items.

Krylon Fusion is available in 12-oz. aerosol cans, at a suggested retail price of $3.99 to $4.79. The product is CFC-free and packaged in a completely recyclable aerosol can. Like all Krylon aerosol paints, Krylon Fusion is in compliance with the California Clean Air Act for Aerosol Coatings and the California Low Emissions and Reactivity Rule (CLEAR).

Krylon will actively support the introduction of Krylon Fusion through a comprehensive consumer awareness campaign that will include television, retail promotions and a vigorous public relations program. Dramatic, attention-getting in-store merchandising will communicate to consumers at the point of sale and educate them on the product's innovative technology and multiple applications.

Krylon, the nation's leading spray paint manufacturer, is number one in innovation and consumer brand recognition. The Krylon consumer products line includes a wide selection of paints and paint-related products, from general-purpose paints to specialty products to rust-preventative paints and primers, Krylon's comprehensive line of paints and finishes are manufactured by Sherwin-Williams Diversified Brands, headquartered at 101 Prospect Ave., N.W., Cleveland, Ohio 44115. For more information, call 1-800-KRYLON (1-800-457-9566) or visit the website at www.krylon.com.

Note: A photo is available at URL:

http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.010703/bb2