Evonik provides innovative plastic products and solutions for Expo 2010 Shanghai

• Evonik's plastic products are successfully applied in the German Pavilion at Expo 2010
• Innovative chemical products contribute to better and balanced city life 
• Participating in the Expo, Evonik is committed to China's business development

Evonik Industries has provided a range of acrylic sheets under the trademarks of PLEXIGLAS®, for the construction of German Pavilion at Expo 2010 Shanghai.

Expo 2010, under the theme of "Better City, Better Life", demonstrates the innovative ideas of some 200 nations and international organizations for future urban problems of the 21st century from May 1 to October 31 in Shanghai, China. The theme also represents the common wish of the whole humankind for better living in future urban environments.

With the acceleration of global urbanization and modernization, especially in Asia, people are more and more concerned with the sustainable development of society and economy. “Evonik is proud to be present at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, as this grand event offers an excellent platform to explore the further of urbanization, a topic that Evonik contributes with our products and solutions. “said Dr. Dahai Yu, President of Evonik Greater China Region. “On the other hand, as Evonik has a strong commitment for China for almost 80 years, participating in the World Expo 2010 will definitely be another landmark to boost our growth in China.”

Evonik's innovative plastics light up the German Pavilion
The German Pavilion has been christened “balancity”, with aim to provide inspiration on how quality of life and diversity in cities can be enhanced by ensuring that the elements of which they are composed interact in harmony.

Evonik's products have been used at several thematic areas in the German Pavilion. Highly transparent showcases that are two meters high, or unusual showcases that look like crystals and are made of PLEXIGLAS® GS give visitors a continuous series of new insights and outlooks. The flat three-sectioned boxes made of matte PLEXIGLAS SATINICE® that provide an attractive backdrop for out-of-the-ordinary exhibits catch the eye of EXPO visitors and are striking and stylish at the same time. The many interlinking rings of PLEXIGLAS® RADIANT that shimmer in all the colors of the rainbow are the centre of attention at the Harbor, whereas the innovative, highly weather-resistant mineral material PLEXICOR® Xkin, normally used for façades, demonstrates its versatility as an outside logo board.

"We are very proud to partner with the German Pavilion to showcase our extensive portfolio of PLEXIGLAS® products at Expo 2010. One of the challenges in our society is to reconcile man with nature. Giving people access to the beauties of nature and helping to protect the environment at the same time is a responsible task and one where PLEXIGLAS® can provide assistance. This concept not only fits with the theme – balancity-of the German Pavilion, but also matches the Expo theme 'Better City, Better Life', " said Dr. Ralf Maus, responsible for Evonik's Performance Polymers - Acrylic Polymers business in Asia Pacific. Seventy million visitors are expected to attend the biggest World’s Fair of all time. Up to 25,000 visitors will visit the roughly 6,000-square-meter German Pavilion every day during the 184 days of EXPO to view and feel innovative ideas and materials from Evonik.

Versatile plastic help shape modern living in the future
PLEXIGLAS® product is one of the world‘s most precious and versatile plastics. Its extensive product group provides a number of applications, from aircraft construction and aircraft cabin windows to monitors and displays, as structural glazing, in noise barriers or in advertising, etc.. It can also be manufactured with many different functional properties and surfaces, offering high light transmission, light diffusion, sight screening, heat reflection, heat insulation, sound reflection, etc. Weather resistance and transparency ensure a long service life for PLEXIGLAS® products in many applications. It is therefore the ideal material for all outdoor projects. PLEXIGLAS® is characterized by elegance, brilliance and color consistency. With these attributes, it draws attention to all indoor items, messages and designer objects.

PLEXICOR® Xkin is a patented innovation from Evonik Rohm GmbH. It has a special surface and unique reflection behavior, making it the ideal choice for facade panels that need to meet stringent requirements.

“In China, PLEXIGLAS® products are mainly used in the areas of construction, signage, shopfitting and industrial applications. We are not only providing products to our customers, but also technical support to add value for their business success. Our goal is to further achieve remarkable market share in China,” said Wenyong Bian, Country Manager of Evonik's Acrylic Polymers Business Line.

Evonik's relationship with China, especially Shanghai, can be traced back to 1933, when its first representative office in China is established here. “As a global leading specialty chemicals company, we are privileged to witness fast expansion and are proud to grow with China,” Continued Dr. Yu. “Evonik always regards China as one of the most important growth regions. Our target is to achieve total sales of €2 billion in the Greater China region in 2015, and we aim to participate in the major growth markets in China by offering localized products and solutions.”

The Performance Polymers Business Unit of Evonik Industries is a worldwide manufacturer of PMMA products sold under the PLEXIGLAS® trademark on the European, Asian, African and Australian continents and under the trademark ACRYLITE® in the Americas. For more information of PLEXIGLAS® product, please visit www.evonik.com/plexiglas

About Evonik
Evonik Industries is the creative industrial group from Germany which operates in three business areas: Chemicals, Energy and Real Estate. Evonik is a global leader in specialty chemicals, an expert in power generation from hard coal and renewable energies, and one of the largest private residential real estate companies in Germany. Our strengths are creativity, specialization, continuous self-renewal, and reliability. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In its fiscal year 2009 about 39,000 employees generated sales of about €13.1 billion and an operating profit (EBITDA) of about €2 billion.

Evonik Industries has been producing specialty chemical products in China since the early 1990’s; with wide-ranging trading relations already in place prior to this. The Group now has a total of 20 companies and 16 production sites in the Greater China region. Evonik regards China as one of the driving forces of the global economy, and we consequently intend to increase our business in Greater China to around €2 billion in the medium term.

Disclaimer
In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.