PASADENA, Texas, July 13, 2009 — As packaging film structures grow more complex and cost pressures on converters mount, the need for better control, reliability and predictability during trials grows stronger. To help meet this need, EVAL Americas recently completed a major upgrade of the Brampton Engineering 7-layer blown-film lab line at its Kuraray Research and Technical Center in Pasadena, TX.

The upgrade included adding Brampton's ITALYCS^® 4 (Integrated Temperature And Line Yield Control System) and new drives and motors to the labline, at an investment of nearly $150,000.

As a result of the upgrade, EVAL Americas' customers enjoy greater reliability and new capabilities to record process conditions during trials.

"Converters who use our lab line save significant amounts of development time and cost," said Robert Armstrong, EVAL Americas' Director of Technical Service. "This line can produce up to a dozen different film structures per day. Customers are able to accomplish multiple tests of different materials in a short period of time with far greater precision than in the past. Further, they can be confident in using process data from trials during scale-up."

The custom Brampton 7-layer line has been in service at EVAL Americas for the past 10 years. In addition to running trials, the company uses the line in annual training seminars for its Latin American customers. "These customers will benefit by learning on the latest control systems that the industry has to offer," Armstrong said.

He continued: "The Brampton line is now ready for further development of new packaging materials for our customers' and our own applications. Upgrading the system allows for the continued use of this versatile line for customer trials and training in the art and science of coextrusion."

About EVAL Americas Inc.:

EVAL Americas manufactures and markets the world's largest range of ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer resins in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Central and South America. EVAL™ resins are characterized by their outstanding gas barrier properties; resistance to solvents, chemicals and hydrocarbons; and excellent barrier to odor and flavor permeation. These unique polymers are particularly suited for food, medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, agricultural and industrial packaging as well as automotive applications.

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