Dow Automotive Expands Tech Centers In Midland, Switzerland

MIDLAND -- Dow Automotive Systems, a business unit of Dow Chemical Co., is expanding its capabilities in composite processing technology with the opening of two Dow development centers to service its global customer base -- one in Freienbach, Switzerland and the other in Midland, Mich.

These laboratories support the advancement of strategic relationships with automotive and commercial transportation customers with an emphasis on carbon fiber composites.

In Freienbach, the Composite Technology Center offers a comprehensive state-of-the-art infrastructure to develop composite applications paired with the appropriate joining technology. The 2,100-square-foot laboratory opened in April and is equipped with a large high pressure resin transfer molding machine for prototype production. It also offers development and testing facilities for resins and related adhesives.

An Adhesives Training Center is also available as part of the Freienbach facility. Customers and distributors are encouraged to visit and learn about the application of different adhesive technologies and to evaluate the benefits of their use with composites.

In Midland, Dow is also creating a center to accommodate technologies associated with direct long-fiber processing, preforming, compression molding and laminating. This 5,000-square-foot site is co-located with key corporate research and development capabilities including analytical sciences, the Materials Engineering Center and a wealth of polymer chemistry and processing related expertise.

Dow officials said the close proximity of this laboratory to Auburn Hills and the Dow Automotive Center of Competence for Adhesive Technology Development in North America will enable Dow teams to combine best practices in these important areas. The Midland center opened in June.

"These important composite technology facilities demonstrate Dow Automotive Systems' commitment to the development of lightweight composite solutions critical to meeting industry fuel efficiency and emissions targets," said Peter Cate, Global Strategic Marketer for Composites. "In two key locations, we now offer critical on-site composites material and processing development capabilities that will further our expertise in this area as well as provide immediate benefits to customers investing in these technologies."

Dow Automotive Systems' materials focus includes structural, elastic and rubber-to-substrate adhesive solutions; emissions control technology; polyurethane foams and acoustical management solutions; films; fluids; and innovative composite technologies.

Offices and application development centers are located around the world to ensure regionalized technical, engineering and commercial support for customers and industry groups.

For additional information, visit www.dowautomotivesystems.com.