Excel Polymer’s Performance Additives business is working to ensure improved service, greater accuracy and exceptional response to customer’s needs.

The last quarter of 2004 capped what was a "year of transition" for the Performance Additives business of Excel Polymers. Moving the Vulcanized Vegetable Oil assets to China was the last manufacturing transition completed, requiring excellent planning and rapid implementation at the Shanghai site. Performance Additives has focused on the approval process for customers, and all grades of VVO are available for sampling. The plant has begun supply. One of the largest customers has given us full approval, and the supply chain is now fully established for their support. The supply chain for all grades will be established following the establishment of demand requirements. The Shanghai facility also has begun supplying the Asian VVO requirements that previously were manufactured in the U.S.

Performance Additives will focus in 2005 on new technology that not only supports customer growth, but also improves performance. New technology enables us to deliver state-of-the-art performance in diverse application areas, including abrasion resistance, natural rubber reversion and nitrosamine safe products and many others. We continually work with customers and end-users to explore and define market-focused solutions helping us identify where new material opportunities can best serve specific markets. This year we will expand this process.

We will double our resource commitment to growth opportunity while continuing to exceed our historical business performance. We will introduce a new computer-based management system that already has impacted speed of delivery. Modeled on Excel Polymer’s Spectrum®, known as the rubber industry’s finest process control system, the system prioritizes and tracks projects and deliverables for customer service requests ensuring timely and accurate delivery to customers.

Excel Polymers also added a new "highly dispersing" mixing system at the Dyersburg facility and an 80-liter mixer in Kennedale enabling us to provide new services and the ability to create new and unique products. We look forward to working with our customers as we add to the portfolio of new markets and establish longer-term plans for growth.

Effective management of global raw material sourcing is an activity to which we are committed, especially given the current economic environment. By doing this, we will develop a broader product offering and an assured source of supply. We are committed to increasing our internal and external partnerships to generate value for our customers.

© 2004 EXCEL Polymers LLC.