Advanced DuPont Coatings Help Chinese Automakers Achieve Sustainability Goals

Shenyang, PRC (Vocus) June 24, 2009 -- A new DuPont (http://www2.dupont.com/DuPont_Home/en_US/index.html) development laboratory and manufacturing facility in China are accelerating the adoption of coatings with improved environmental performance by Chinese automakers. The technical center, located in Shanghai, and the manufacturing operations in Changchun allow DuPont scientists to respond to their customers’ needs quickly and efficiently.

“The water-based coatings we have introduced in China not only perform well and look great, but they also help reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone or smog,” said B.C. Chong (http://www2.dupont.com/Our_Company/en_US/executives/chong.html), vice president and general manager -- DuPont Automotive OEM Coatings.

For example, the new Shanghai General Motors (http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/global_operations/asia_pacific/chin.jsp) plant at Shenyang, is located just west of the DuPont Changchun plant. It will use DuPont water-based coatings produced at the Changchun facility. Shanghai General Motors is a joint venture between General Motors and the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation. The site has an annual capacity of 150,000 cars. The Shenyang plant is not affected by the General Motors bankruptcy which includes only North American operations.

“Shanghai General Motors has demonstrated its commitment to more sustainable processes by designing this water-based coatings technology into its new plant,” added Chong.

DuPont also has introduced newly developed solvent-based automotive coatings in China. Unlike traditional paints, these products contain higher levels of pigment, or solids, which allow them to be applied with reduced emissions of VOCs.

DuPont Automotive OEM Finishes is a key supplier to virtually all of the major automotive manufacturers globally. DuPont also is a leading manufacturer of automotive refinish products used in the collision repair industry. Thousands of collision repair shops globally have converted their operations to the use of DuPont water-based products, reducing emissions in the process.

In addition to paints and coatings, DuPont supports the global automotive and transportation industries (http://www2.dupont.com/Automotive/en_US/index.html) with more than 100 product lines including elastomers for hoses, belts and other parts; engineering plastics for molded components; electronics products for microcircuits; and flexible and printed circuits and a variety of polyester films. The DuPont offering also includes glass laminating products, fuel cell components, refrigerants and thermal protection materials. DuPont is working actively to introduce more sustainable, bio-based materials and fuels that reduce dependence on petroleum resources, reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel efficiency.

DuPont – one of the first companies to publicly establish environmental goals 19 years ago – has broadened its sustainability commitments beyond internal footprint reduction to include market-driven targets for both revenue and research and development investment. The goals are tied directly to business growth, specifically to the development of safer and environmentally improved new products for key global markets.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

Cruze® is a registered trademark of Shanghai General Motors.

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