GLS Announces New Manufacturing Facility in China for Local Production, Global Supply of Top Quality TPEs
New World-Class Facility Goes Online in June 2006 to Supply Leading-Edge Specialty TPEs to Greater Asia and Global Customers
SHANGHAI, China (April 21, 2006) -- GLS Corp., the global leader in high-performance thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), today announced that it will open a new TPE manufacturing plant in Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, China. The new facility - GLS Thermoplastic Alloys (Suzhou) Company, Ltd. - is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GLS Corp. The facility is scheduled to go online in June 2006, from which GLS will supply regional and global customers with the company's full range of TPE product technologies. GLS made the announcement at Chinaplas 2006 where it is exhibiting its growing portfolio of TPE materials in booth W3G21.
In response to increasing demand for GLS products in Asia and worldwide, the new state-of-the-art, 80,000-square-foot manufacturing site is strategically located approximately 80km from Shanghai. GLS chose Suzhou Industrial Park due to the access of the location to a highly experienced work force, its proximity to Shanghai, access to ports, and the area's well-developed infrastructure. The new plant will further strengthen GLS' ability to supply products to multinational customers with local support, fast service, and improved supply chain efficiencies.
"Our new Suzhou facility is a key part of GLS' global growth strategy to provide high-performance TPEs to our customers virtually anywhere in the world," said Daniel Dague, President of GLS Corp. "The plant will not only help to further secure our already strong local foothold in China and Greater Asia, but will also greatly enhances GLS' position as the world's top supplier of leading-edge TPE technology solutions," he noted.
The GLS family of high-performance TPE compounds and alloys includes compounds based on thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs), and copolyester elastomers (COPEs), among other custom-compound formulations. These compounds are ideal candidates for the most demanding TPE applications in markets ranging from consumer products, medical, housewares, hardware, electronics and infant care to appliance, personal care, lawn and garden, and industrial goods. The company also manufactures TPEs for high-performance overmolding applications where soft-touch and ultra-soft-touch properties are key requirements.
"Our customers know and trust us to provide the most consistent high-quality materials, technological innovation, and fast, localized technical service available," said Walter Ripple, Director of Sales & Marketing, GLS. "Our new Suzhou facility will play a major role in these efforts, expanding our reach worldwide and underscoring our commitment to Asia and our global customers as a single source for all their TPE needs."
About GLS Corp.
GLS Corporation is headquartered in the United States near Chicago in McHenry, Illinois. The company specializes in the manufacture of application-specific custom formulated soft and ultra-soft thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) for injection molding and extrusion. GLS has supplied specialty TPEs to the industry since 1979, and is recognized as a global leader in TPE technology solutions. Specific products sold by GLS include proprietary DYNAFLEX® TPE compounds based on KRATON® polymers (available in injection molding and extrusion, as well as medical and FDA grades); VERSAFLEX® TPE specialty alloys (available in soft-touch, lightweight, ultra-soft, ultra-clear and overmolding grades); VERSALLOY(TM) TPV alloys; and VERSOLLAN(TM) TPU alloy compounds. The company also is the exclusive distributor of KRATON® compounds and polymers for the compounding market in the United States, and also distributes KRATON® compounds and polymers globally.
For more information on GLS Products and services, in the U.S., contact: Marketing Department, GLS Corporation, 833 Ridgeview Drive, McHenry, IL 60050-7050. Telephone: (815) 385-8500 or (800) 457-8777. Fax: (815) 385-8533. E-mail: info@glscorp.com Web: www.glscorp.com.
In Europe, contact: Mr. John Simons, business development manager, GLS International, Inc., P.O. Box 19, 4410 AA Rilland, The Netherlands. Tel: 31 113 551 093. Fax: 31 113 551 094. E-mail: jsimons@glscorp.com. Web: www.glscorp.com.
In Hong Kong, contact: GLS Hong Kong Ltd., Room 5, 5/F, Block B, Veristrong Industrial Centre, 34-36 Au Pui Wan Street, Fo Tan, Shalin, N.T., Hong Kong. Tel: 852 2690 5330. Fax: 852 2690 5223. E-mail: asia@glscorp.com. Web: www.glscorp.com.
In Suzhou, contact: GLS Thermoplastic Alloys Suzhou Co. Ltd. No. 77, Shenggang Street SIP, Suzhou, China (215021) Tel: +86 512 6265 2600. Fax: +86 512 6265 2700. E-mail: asia@glscorp.com. Web: www.glscorp.com.
In Taiwan, contact: GLS Taiwan, Room 1102, 11F, No. 69, Sec. 1, Yonghe Rd., Yonghe City, Taipei County 234, Taiwan. Tel: +886 9396 99740. Fax: +886 2 2929 1849. E-mail: asia@glscorp.com. Web: www.glscorp.com.
GLS CORPORATION
833 Ridgeview Drive
McHenry, IL 60050-7050
