GLS Helps Customers Meet Current, Future Eco-Driven Regulations With New Halogen-Free, Flame-Retardant Onflextm -S Tpe-S Compounds

(Shanghai, China – April 17, 2008) Here at Chinaplas 2008, GLS Corporation – recently acquired by PolyOne Corporation, (NYSE: POL) and a global leader in the manufacture of high-performance, custom-formulated thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) – is introducing a new family of halogen-free, flame-retardant thermoplastic elastomer compounds that can help customers meet current and upcoming environmental regulations. With OnFlexTM-S HF TPE-S compounds – featuring a unique, patent-pending formulation – customers can easily upgrade from conventional, halogenated flame-retardant TPEs without retooling or sacrificing performance. At booth # W2J11 in Hall 2, GLS will be showcasing the new OnFlex-S HF compounds together with the low smoke, free of halogen (LSFOH) family of compounds for wire & cable applications. This expanded product portfolio demonstrates the company’s focus on new technologies that enable customers to comply with increasingly stringent regulatory requirements.

“Although halogen-free flame retardance is not universally mandated, PolyOne and GLS are taking the lead in creating new materials that help our customers stay ahead of regulatory trends,” said Walter Ripple, senior director, Global Sales & Marketing for GLS. “By replacing conventional TPEs with our new OnFlex-S grades, customers can gain a competitive advantage by demonstrating and marketing their compliance with upcoming requirements in the marketplace.”

Regulations, including the European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive, are limiting the use of brominated and chlorinated additives commonly used to provide flame retardance in electrical/electronic applications. “Creating a halogen-free TPE has been a big challenge because alternative flame-retardant additives can impact the pliability and softness properties of TPEs,” said Manfred Taedcke, TPE market manager, Europe for PolyOne Corp. “However, our market-leading development resources and expertise enabled us to engineer the OnFlex-S HF grades while preserving all the desirable performance properties of this breakthrough TPE series.”

The OnFlex-S HF grades are based on styrene-ethylene butylene-styrene (SEBS) technology. These new TPEs, available in a wide range of hardnesses, provide excellent mechanical properties as well as flexibility in low-temperature environments. All grades meet UL 94 V-0 flammability standards. OnFlex-S TPE compounds are available pre-colored or can be colored during the final manufacturing process utilizing PolyOne OnColorTM color concentrates or other compatible color concentrates.

The OnFlex-S HF grades are designed for injection and blow molding, and in some cases, are also suitable for extrusion. Applications include seals for electrical junction boxes, and cable jacketing and insulation. Other products in this portfolio include OnFlex-O (TPE-O), OnFlex-V (TPE-V) and OnFlex-U (TPE-U) compounds. These materials are available across Europe and Asia-Pacific regions.

The combination of GLS and PolyOne Corp., a leading global provider of specialized polymer materials, services, and solutions, offers worldwide customers a dramatically expanded TPE portfolio, enhanced TPE capabilities including innovative, customized product development; full-scale manufacturing; and fast, hands-on technical service and support. In addition to providing standard grades, GLS and PolyOne will customize compounds to address specific performance and process requirements.

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About GLS

GLS is a global leader in the development, manufacture, and supply of high-performance, custom-formulated thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), and is headquartered in McHenry, Ill., USA. The company specializes in the manufacture of application-specific high performance soft TPEs for injection molding and extrusion. GLS has supplied specialty TPEs to the industry since 1979, and is recognized as a worldwide leader in TPE technology solutions. See www.glscorporation.com for additional information on GLS.

About PolyOne

PolyOne Corporation, with annual revenues of more than $2.7 billion, is a leading global provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions. Headquartered outside of Cleveland, Ohio, USA, PolyOne has operations across the world. See www.polyone.com for additional information on PolyOne.