60% wt.) of long fibers are superior in strength, stiffness, dimensional stability and impact resistance than most polymer materials, resulting in stronger, more durable parts increasing lifetime and reducing maintenance cost. For more information, please visit www.victrex.com. About Suprem SA Located in Switzerland, Suprem is the leading manufacturer in impregnating unidirectional fibers with high-end thermoplastic polymers in Europe, including Suprem T (prepreg tape) , Suprem R (pultruded rods), Suprem C (molding compound). All Suprem material production comes under ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 quality registration. For more information, please visit www.suprem.ch. Victrex plc is an innovative leading manufacturer of high performance materials, including VICTREX® PEEK(TM) polymer, VICOTE® Coatings and APTIV® Film. These materials are used in a variety of markets and offer and exceptional combination of properties to help designers, processors, and end users reach new levels of cost savings, quality, and performance. For more information visit: www.victrex.com. Contact: Kris Jommersbach Gemini Communications PH: + (1) 610-935-1633 krisj@geminiinc.com"> VICTREX® PEEK(TM) Polymer Used in Suprem Prepreg Tape Designed for Automated High Speed Production

VICTREX® PEEK(TM) Polymer Used in Suprem Prepreg Tape Designed for Automated High Speed Production


WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA, USA - Victrex Polymer Solutions, a division of Victrex plc announced that Suprem SA, a Swiss-based prepreg manufacturer, has reported a more than 50% annual growth in its business, which was generated from prepregs made with VICTREX® PEEK(TM) polymer. Suprem´s proprietary impregnation method allows for the rapid and flexible production of an extensive variety of prepreg tapes optimized for automated processing equipment - a key requirement for the cost effective mass production of composite parts for the aerospace and industrial markets.

Using VICTREX PEEK polymer, which meets the high standards and mandatory performance requirements of automated high speed production equipment, Suprem was able to respond to the needs of the leading providers of manufacturing equipment, develop a high quality prepregs manufactured to tight tolerances, and suitably packaged to facilitate high speed automated processing. In addition they developed several options in fiber distribution across the section of a tape and adapted the surface qualities for the maximum energy absorbance offering higher design freedom for lighter weight and lower cost parts.

"The excellent thermal stability and consistency of VICTREX PEEK polymer enables Suprem to work with tight process controls in the impregnation process for unidirectional (UD) tapes to achieve the required processability and long-term performance," said Hansjürg Gysin, CEO Suprem SA.

Since the 1990s VICTREX PEEK polymer powders and pellets have been used as a matrix material in the manufacture of advanced thermoplastic composite prepregs made of carbon, glass or aramid continuous fibers. Victrex polymers are engineered to provide optimum impregnation of the reinforcing fibers and fiber-matrix interface. They are recyclable and are cost-effective to process using out-of-autoclave and thermoforming techniques; they facilitate significant weight reduction when compared with metals, further enhanced by the ability to consolidate parts; they offer enhanced design freedom by providing the ability to produce complex shapes; they have "unlimited" shelf life; they satisfy stringent performance requirements and are safety and environmentally compliant.

Customers can order small quantities to facilitate product development and modify specification of the prepreg based on their experience and findings to optimize the fiber content and the choice of fibers. In combination with VICTREX PEEK polymer the fiber volume content may vary between 40% and 62%.

To keep pace with the high demand and growth Suprem is looking to develop applications in the future that leverage Victrex's expertise in polyaryletherketones and advancements in its portfolio. VICTREX® HT(TM) polymer allows increased service temperatures required by applications in the electronics industry. The reduced viscosity of the VICTREX® PEEK(TM) 90 grade allows higher percentages of fiber content for increased mechanical performance resulting in lighter, more durable components. Further the lower viscosity also enables faster fiber placement and filament winding processes for increased productivity and lower part cost.

VICTREX PEEK polymer-based composites and traditional compounds with increased content (> 60% wt.) of long fibers are superior in strength, stiffness, dimensional stability and impact resistance than most polymer materials, resulting in stronger, more durable parts increasing lifetime and reducing maintenance cost.

For more information, please visit www.victrex.com.

About Suprem SA

Located in Switzerland, Suprem is the leading manufacturer in impregnating unidirectional fibers with high-end thermoplastic polymers in Europe, including Suprem T (prepreg tape) , Suprem R (pultruded rods), Suprem C (molding compound). All Suprem material production comes under ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 quality registration. For more information, please visit www.suprem.ch.

Victrex plc is an innovative leading manufacturer of high performance materials, including VICTREX® PEEK(TM) polymer, VICOTE® Coatings and APTIV® Film. These materials are used in a variety of markets and offer and exceptional combination of properties to help designers, processors, and end users reach new levels of cost savings, quality, and performance. For more information visit: www.victrex.com.

Contact: Kris Jommersbach

Gemini Communications

PH: + (1) 610-935-1633

krisj@geminiinc.com

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