DSM DYNEEMA INVESTS IN GREATER CAPACITY TO SUPPORT MEDICAL DEVICE APPLICATIONS

URMOND (NL), 02 October 2008 - To help medical device companies develop new clinical approaches that improve patient outcomes, DSM Dyneema today announced a major milestone in its strategic plan to increase commitment by increasing manufacturing capacity & capabilities dedicated to Dyneema Purity®, a specially developed proprietary medical-grade ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber for use in medical applications where maximum strength and minimum weight are required. The company will create its first line for manufacturing Dyneema Purity® fiber at its Greenville, North Carolina facility. The line will produce the latest grades, including Dyneema Purity® TG dtex 25 TS180, which offers the same high specific strength as existing grades at significantly thinner diameters, and Dyneema Purity® UG, developed specifically to allow the development of strong, stable orthopedic implants that provide consistent performance over a longer term.

The planned Dyneema Purity® production line will offer device manufacturers important advantages, including the ability to rapidly develop customized grades for specialized requirements, and faster time to market due to optimized production. The line will be operated and validated under ISO 13485, the specific requirements for the medical industry. The line will be operational in the middle of 2010.

“With rapid advancements in medical technologies such as minimally invasive surgery and component miniaturization, there is strong demand for new materials that can enable shorter procedures and improved patient outcomes,” said Carina Snijder, business manager medical for DSM Dyneema, part of Royal DSM B.V.. “DSM is making significant investments across our biomedical business to help manufacturers obtain the specialized materials they need to create tomorrow’s devices, implants, sutures, instruments and more.”

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About DSM Dyneema

DSM Dyneema is the inventor and manufacturer of Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™ and Dyneema Purity®. Dyneema® and Dyneema Purity® are ultra strong polyethylene fibers that offer maximum strength combined with minimum weight. They are up to 15 times stronger than quality steel and up to 40% stronger than aramid fibers, both on weight for weight basis. Dyneema® and Dyneema Purity® float on water and are extremely durable and resistant to moisture, UV light and chemicals. The applications are therefore more or less unlimited. Dyneema® is an important component in ropes, cables and nets in the fishing, shipping and offshore industries. Dyneema® is also used in safety gloves for the metalworking industry and in fine yarns for applications in sporting goods as well as in bullet resistant armor and clothing for police and military personnel. In addition, Dyneema Purity® is used in medical implant applications.

Dyneema® is produced in Heerlen (The Netherlands) and in Greenville, North Carolina (U.S.A.). Dyneema Purity® is produced in Heerlen (The Netherlands). DSM Dyneema is also a partner in a high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) manufacturing joint venture in Japan. Further information on DSM Dyneema is available at www.dyneema.com and www.dyneemapurity.com.

DSM – the Life Sciences and Materials Sciences Company

DSM creates innovative products and services in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences that contribute to the quality of life. DSM’s products and services are used globally in a wide range of markets and applications, supporting a healthier, more sustainable and more enjoyable way of life. End markets include human and animal nutrition and health, personal care, pharmaceuticals, automotive, coatings and paint, electrics and electronics, life protection and housing. DSM has annual sales of almost EUR 8.8 billion and employs some 23,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in the Netherlands, with locations on five continents. DSM is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. More information on DSM can be found at www.dsm.com. To meet the upcoming needs of the medical and biotech industries, DSM increased its commitment to the medical device industry by the foundation of DSM Biomedical. DSM Biomedical builds on the expertise and strengths of DSM in polymers, coating technology, materials science and life sciences. Its guiding mission is to provide materials-based products and technologies that will enable the replacement, repair, enhancement and ultimately the regeneration of tissue and organ function. DSM’s current biomedical portfolio includes ComfortCoat™ hydrophilic and antimicrobial coating technology, implant solutions (including Dyneema Purity®) and the drug delivery platform Trancerta™. Recently the company acquired PTG, a market leader in the field of biomedical polymers. More information on DSM Biomedical can be found at www.dsmbiomedical.com.

Dyneema®, Dyneema Purity® and Dyneema®, the world's strongest fiber™ are trademark(s) (applications) owned by Royal DSM N.V..

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.