Milestones: GE Advanced Materials Continues to Drive Automotive Innovation After Nearly 50 Years of Service

For nearly half a century, GE Advanced Materials – formerly GE Plastics, GE Silicones, and GE Quartz – has set standards for high-performance automotive polymers. Beginning in 1958 with the introduction of LEXAN* resin, its first engineering plastic, GE has continued the tradition of developing advanced automotive materials, while delivering world-class technical support and unparalleled customer service.

A brief chronology of GE Advanced Materials’ major automotive milestones follows:

1893: Thomas Edison experiments with plastics filaments for light bulbs.

1930: GE creates its first Plastics Department.

1953: Dan Fox discovers LEXAN polycarbonate (PC) resin, launching the modern era for engineering thermoplastics.

1958: GE introduces LEXAN resin as a commercial product.

1964: GE introduces NORYL* modified PPO resin, providing automotive OEMs with a lightweight, ecologically optimized, high-performance alternative to metal.

1969: LEXAN resin first used for taillights and indicated lenses on European sports cars.

1971: GE introduces its family of VALOX* resins.

1982: LEXAN resin enables all-plastic, sealed beam headlamps that are 30 to 50 percent lighter than conventional lamp fixtures.

1982: GE Plastics introduces its high-heat resistant ULTEM* resin.

1984: XENOY* resin developed for use on bumpers for leading OEMs.

1988: GE Plastics adds acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resins to its portfolio with acquisition of Borg-Warner Chemicals.

1990: GE Polymer Design Associate formed to provide one-stop shopping to OEM customers in independent engineering and design consulting.

1997: GE Plastics introduces weatherable thermoplastic materials.

1997: GE Plastics forms joint venture for development of polycarbonate auto glazing.

2000: GE Plastics acquires Cadilac Plastic and Commercial Plastics and Supply.

2002: GE Plastics purchases LNP* Engineering Plastics, adding compounding technology and expertise to its family of customer solutions.

2003: Led by Andre Horbach, GE consolidates its automotive businesses in the Americas, Europe, and Pacific Region to form a dedicated business unit, concentrating its resources and efforts exclusively on the worldwide automotive industry.

2005: Greg Adams takes over as global vice president of GE Advanced Materials, Automotive.

* LEXAN, NORYL, VALOX, ULTEM, XENOY, and LNP are trademarks of General Electric Company.

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