Solutia Begins Construction of New Saflex(R) PVB Plant in China

The company anticipates beginning production at the plant in mid-2007.

Solutia made the decision to construct the plant following the completion of a design and engineering study that began in the spring of 2005. The company has selected a construction site in Suzhou, providing ready access to the burgeoning Shanghai automotive industry. The plant will focus on meeting the growing demands of the Chinese automotive market by manufacturing PVB interlayers for use in windscreens. It also will be ideally located to supply other markets in Asia, further improving the business' ability to meet rising customer needs for Solutia PVB interlayers across the broader Asia-Pacific region.

In addition to the forthcoming Suzhou plant, Solutia's LGI presence in the Asia-Pacific region includes a finishing center, distribution center and regional customer service center in Singapore. These investments have been instrumental in establishing the high level of logistical support and customer service necessary to meet growing Asian demand. "This project demonstrates our commitment to a market that will be very important to our future growth and our focus on being a competitive supplier on a global basis," says Jeffry N. Quinn, president and CEO, Solutia Inc.

Solutia is the global leader in PVB interlayer innovation, quality and reliability. When laminated between layers of glass, PVB interlayers greatly enhance the performance characteristics of glass, providing benefits such as security, solar protection, sound attenuation, safety and style. Laminated glass made with Saflex PVB is used in applications for automobiles and buildings. In addition to Saflex, Solutia manufactures Vanceva(R) high-performance interlayers, providing customers the world's most innovative portfolio of laminated glass interlayers.