Midland,MI - March 05, 2007

The Dow Chemical Company today announced it is locating the first global-scale production facility for INFUSE™ Olefin Block Copolymers (OBCs) at a plant in Freeport, Texas.  Dow recently completed its first trial manufacturing run at the facility and is planning full-scale manufacturing of INFUSE OBCs in the third quarter of 2007.

“INFUSE OBCs were developed in response to customer interest in higher-performing olefin elastomers – and the reaction to these materials in the global marketplace has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Marco Levi, global business director for plastomers, elastomers and EPDM, The Dow Chemical Company.  “Our manufacturing progress signifies Dow’s commitment to bringing these innovative materials to customers around the world – and our ability to do so on a large-volume global scale.”  

Unveiled in June 2006, INFUSE OBCs feature unique block architecture that allows for new-to-the-world combinations of performance and processing enhancements.  This material innovation was created using  INSITE™ technology, which enables olefin elastomers to expand into a wide range of potential market applications for converters and manufacturers of flexible goods and products.  INFUSE market applications include flexible molded goods, profile extruded products, hoses and tubes, elastic fibers and films, foams, coated fabrics, adhesives and tapes.

The large-scale production facility will be located at a Dow manufacturing plant which can also produce other Dow product innovations including AFFINITY™ Polyolefin Plastomers and ENGAGE™ Polyolefin Elastomers.  

Dow recently completed a large-volume production campaign for INFUSE™ OBCs at the facility, during which it manufactured sufficient volumes to satisfy large-scale developmental customer trials.

“In addition to demonstrating our manufacturing capabilities, the large-volume production run of INFUSE OBCs provides immediate capacity needed to significantly expand trialing and application development efforts with key customers,” said Luis Cirihal, business development manager, INFUSE olefin block copolymers, The Dow Chemical Company.      

INFUSE OBCs are among many innovative products that underscore Dow’s strategy to strengthen its Performance business portfolio by prioritizing technology and solutions offerings that support high-value, end-use applications. For more information about INFUSE Olefin Block Copolymers, please visit http://www.dow.com/infuse.

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For Editorial Information:

Nancy Lamb
The Dow Chemical Company
(989) 638-7251

Brian Hall
Gibbs & Soell
(847) 519-9150
bhall@gibbs-soell.com