GE Plastics to Increase PPO Resin Capacity.

Business/Technology Editors

SELKIRK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 10, 2000

GE Plastics, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), announced that it has completed a 29,000-metric-ton expansion for PPO(R) resin, and that a project for an additional 11,000 metric tons is underway. This new capacity for both PPO resin and alkylated products is projected to be available by the third quarter of 2001.

At the Selkirk plant, investment coupled with major debottlenecking efforts in alkylated products is expected to result in production increases of 2,6-xylenol by 15 percent and ortho-cresol by 40 percent. GE Plastics at Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands, and Moka, Japan also manufacture 2,6-xylenol and ortho-cresol.

"This expansion provides the basis for growth in major markets such as automotive, telecommunications, business equipment and TV enclosures for the NORYL(R) resin business," said Paul Hirt, PPO resin business leader in the Americas. 2,6-xylenol is a monomer used to produce PPO resin, which in turn is a key ingredient in several GE Plastics materials including NORYL and NORYL GTX(R) resins.

"Additional capacity is also critical to meet increasing customer demands in key segments for ortho-cresol worldwide," Hirt said. "GE will be in an even better position in 2001 to alleviate supply tightness as ortho-cresol markets continue to grow."

GE Plastics is a global manufacturer of high performance materials including engineering thermoplastics, silicone products, specialty chemicals, petrochemicals, circuit boards and man-made diamonds. The company also is a leading global distributor of plastics resin and shapes. GE Plastics sales were $6.9 billion in 1999. The company has its headquarters at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA.

For more information on GE Plastics products, please call [phone] or access information through the GE Plastics Internet site at www.geplastics.com

PPO and NORYL are registered trademarks of General Electric Company.