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News Release from: Sabic Innovative Plastics
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 01 February 2005
Resin plant dedicated in Spain
The inauguration of GE's 2nd Cartagena Lexan resin plant adds up to a EUR 1,700 million - one of the largest private investments in Spain in the last 20 years.
General Electric has officially dedicated its new Lexan resin plant in Cartagena, Murcia, at an event hosted by Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt This is the third phase of the GE Advanced Materials, Plastics complex and represents an investment of EUR 600 million
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 26 Feb 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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The planned construction of a fourth phase, GE's Ultem resins plant, was also announced during the inaugural event.
The inauguration of GE's 2nd Cartagena Lexan resin plant brings its total investment in the Cartagena complex to EUR 1,700 million.
This represents one of the largest private investments in Spain in the last 20 years and confirms that GE is one of the biggest private investors in the Spanish economy.
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The new GE plant is expected to employ more than 250 people, increasing the total number of employees in the Cartagena complex to over 600, all of whom have been trained in quality, safety, information technology, and other technical disciplines.
Employees of GE's new plant will focus on the production of Lexan resin.
They will also continuously collaborate with scientists at GE's Global Research Centres to help define the future technical materials needs of the GE's customers.
The new GE plant has the capacity of producing approximately 130,000 tonnes of Lexan resin per year.
Based on current global demand for GE's Lexan resin, much of the plant's output is currently anticipated to be absorbed by the market.
The plant was designed using six sigma rigor, GE's quality standard, and was based on its twin facility with which it has production synergies.
GE expects that over 90 percent of the plant's production will be exported from Murcia to customers around the world.
In 2003 alone, exports of thermoplastics from Cartagena were valued at EUR 300 million, over 8% of Murcia´s total exports.
The total investment in the region for the 1993-2002 period is over EUR 2.85 billion.
"Lexan polycarbonate is known around the world for its benefits to industry and the consumer," said John Krenicki, president and CEO of GE Advanced Materials.
"Lexan is tough, clear and virtually unbreakable.
GE is proud to make even more Lexan products in Cartagena to serve customers and consumers around the world." GE's Cartagena site is an example of innovation and efficiency in safety management.
In the last two years of the plant's construction, with over 3.000 contractors, there were no accidents.
In November 2004, the complex surpassed the million working hours milestone without any lost-time accidents.
The Cartagena complex is committed to environmental leadership, as is reflected in its policies of waste management, emissions control and ISO 14001 quality standards.
Between 1993 and 2003, GE invested EUR 40 million for environment protection on the plant's site.
Additionally, through its volunteer program, GE Elfun Volunteers, GE has dedicated over 300 volunteers and more than 3,000 volunteer hours to programs in nearby communities.
GE also announced that it plans to continue its investment in Murcia with the construction of a new plant that will manufacture high performance polymers under the 'Ultem' resin brand.
No details on the planned investment or construction plans were made available at the event.
GE (NYSE:GE) is a diversified technology, media and financial services company dedicated to creating products that make life better.
From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, television programming and plastics, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide.
General Electric has been present in Spain for more than 50 years.
At this moment, the biggest divisions, including 40 commercial units, 12 industrial plants and more than 3,400 employees, have commercial activities in Spain.
In 2004, the sales represented more than 1,900 million dollars.
* GE in EMEA - GE has been active in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), for more than 100 years and has its regional headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
In 2004, EMEA sales of $38 billion represented an increase of over 24 per cent compared with 2003, across GE's activities in both the industrial and financial sectors.
All eleven global GE businesses have a significant presence in the region.
The company currently employs some 80,000 people in EMEA.
* About GE Advanced Materials - GE Advanced Materials is a world leader in providing materials solutions through engineering thermoplastics, silicon-based products and technology platforms, and fused quartz and ceramics.
Among its businesses are: * Plastics - which is a global plastics materials supplier and distributor, serving customers in a variety of industries including aerospace, appliances, automotive, building and construction, data storage and optical media, medical, electrical and electronics devices, telecommunications, computers and peripheral devices, outdoor vehicles and devices, and packaging.
* Silicones - which includes GE Toshiba Silicones in the Pacific region and GE Bayer Silicones in Europe, offers silanes, specialty silicones, urethane additives, adhesives, sealants, resins, and elastomers for a variety of industries such as personal care, automotive, tire and rubber, construction, healthcare, electronics, household and institutional, agriculture, textiles, appliances, bedding and furnishings, foam control, and consumer.
* Quartz - which provides high-purity quartz and advanced ceramic materials for the semiconductor, telecommunications, lighting, electronics, personal care, water purification, and various other industries.
* About Lexan resin - with unmatched impact resistance, outstanding dimensional stability and crystal-clarity, Lexan* resin is an amorphous engineering thermoplastic that combines high levels of mechanical, optical, electrical and thermal properties.
Lexan* resin is tough, clear, and virtually unbreakable.
Lexan resin provides designers with new opportunities for innovative, cost-effective products such as eyewear, compact discs, kitchen containers and business equipment.
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