XOM Exxon Mobil Corp

Technical support at ExxonMobil Chemical's Santoprene(TM) specialty products technical center in Akron, Ohio, has been strengthened with the addition of a new vertical injection molding machine. It will be used to assist customers with insert and overmolding projects using Santoprene thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). The new machine, with 130 tons clamping force and rotary table, was selected because it is similar to those most commonly used in industry. Gary Lawrence, engineering specialist, ExxonMobil Chemical, said: "Our customers are becoming increasingly involved in insert molding and two-shot overmolding projects and in the plastics industry this type of work is generally undertaken on a vertical rather than a horizontal machine. With new equipment that replicates the industry norm, we have strengthened our technical support to customers worldwide. Helping Santoprene TPE users manufacture a better end-product more efficiently is an approach that has kept us at the forefront of the industry for 25 years." The vertical injection molding machine has a fast cycle time, accurate rotary table and can take a 7.5 ounce shot size. Through its technical centers in Akron, Brussels, Singapore, and Tokyo that can replicate industry molding production plants, ExxonMobil Chemical provides customers who buy Santoprene products with specialized assistance in all aspects of mold design, processing, testing and material selection. Each center is also linked to the group's intranet, so real-time analysis and reviews can take place at the customer's convenience. Technical center support areas include elastomer development, product analysis development and prototyping, elastomer grade selection, mold and part design, troubleshooting, injection molding including two-shot process and overmolding, computer-aided design and engineering services, material comparisons and selection, finite element analysis (FEA), mold-flow analysis along with technical laboratory testing of physical properties and evaluation of materials for specific applications. About Santoprene(TM) specialty products ExxonMobil Chemical's Santoprene specialty products are the global leader in engineered TPEs, materials with the performance of rubber and the processing ease of plastic. ExxonMobil Chemical is a global leader in technology, product quality and customer services, with petrochemical manufacturing and/or marketing operations in more than 150 countries around the world. For more information visit www.santoprene.com and www.exxonmobilchemical.com. Note to the editors: 1. Santoprene is a trademark of Advanced Elastomer Systems L.P., Akron, Ohio. 2. The term "ExxonMobil Chemical" refers collectively to some or all of the companies affiliated with Exxon Mobil Corporation which have chemical manufacturing and/or marketing operations around the world. 3. Further information on engineered thermoplastic vulcanizates can be obtained from www.santoprene.com 4. An electronic version is available at: www.santoprene.com/news