Packaging Converters Gain Greater Control and Reliability During Trials Following Upgrade of EVAL Americas` 7-Layer Blown Film Lab Line

PASADENA, Texas--(Business Wire)--
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 today announced the recent
completion of a major upgrade of the Brampton Engineering 7-layer blown film lab
line at its Kuraray Research and Technical Center in Pasadena, Texas.

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

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.

Note to Editors:

More high-resolution photos of the ITALYCS® 4 control system are available by
calling Donna Giles at (713) 623-2989.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6003869&lang=yy

At EVAL Americas:
Director of Technical Service
Robert Armstrong, 281-474-1576
Robert.Armstrong@kurarayamerica.com
http://www.evalamericas.com
or
At Brampton Engineering:
Inside Sales and Marketing Manager
Bill Mitchell
bmitchell@be-ca.com
or
Vice President, Sales -- North America
Jim Stobie
jstobie@be-ca.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009