(November 14, 2005)  A new polypropylene resin designed to meet the stringent impact resistance, durability and stiffness requirements of returnable plastic packaging has been developed by Phillips Sumika Polypropylene Company (Phillips Sumika), a joint venture of Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP (Chevron Phillips Chemical) and Sumitomo Chemical Company, Ltd (Sumitomo).

Phillips Sumika Marlex^® ALN-070 PP resin, which incorporates Milliken Chemical’s Hyperform^® HPN-68L, is specifically formulated for use in the manufacture of trays, containers, nest-able totes and pallets used to ship consumer and commercial goods.

Returnable plastic packaging is growing in popularity because it reduces shipping costs through multiple, repeat uses. In addition, returnable plastic packaging offers superior physical properties, is easily cleaned and can be printed on or color-coded. 

“Phillips Sumika Marlex^® ALN-070 PP resin effectively addresses the extremely rigorous performance requirements of returnable plastic packaging, including superior impact, high-flex modulus and a higher melt flow for a wider processing window,” said Georgina Goodnight, Phillips Sumika’s market segment leader for material handling.

“The resin also offers other value added benefits, such as faster cycle times and reduced warpage, which is especially important in thin-wall applications and larger flat parts,” she said. “Our customers have reported achieving all of these benefits in trials with the new resin.”

Faster cycle times and reduced warpage are being achieved in part through the use of Milliken’s Hyperform HPN-68L. Hyperform represents a new class of polypropylene nucleation that creates high quality parts at fast production rates. 

Phillips Sumika and Milliken are offering technical consultations and support for development trials with Marlex^® ALN-070 PP. For more information, contact Georgina Goodnight at goodng@cpchem.com.

About Phillips Sumika

Phillips Sumika Polypropylene Company is a joint venture between Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP, based in the U.S., and Sumika Polymers America Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical Company, Ltd., based in Japan. The merger and synergy of Chevron Phillips Chemical's business infrastructure and support organizations in the U.S., with Sumitomo's advanced technologies, makes Phillips Sumika a leading force in polyolefin resins. For more information about Phillips Sumika, visit www.phillipssumika.com.

About Chevron Phillips Chemical

Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC with its affiliates is one of the world’s top producers of olefins and polyolefins and a leading supplier of aromatics, alpha olefins, styrenics, specialty chemicals, piping and proprietary plastics.  The company has total assets of approximately $7 billion and is owned equally by Chevron Corporation and ConocoPhillips.  For more information about Chevron Phillips Chemical, visit http://www.cpchem.com/.

About Milliken

With technical service and application development centers in North America, Asia, Europe and Latin America, Milliken & Company serves a broad array of markets, providing products and services that enhance the performance, appearance and durability of consumer and commercial products.   Milliken is a market leader in additives for plastics, including Millad® 3988 clarifying agent, Hyperform® nucleating agents, ClearTint® polymer colorants and ClearShield® UV absorber. For further information, visit www.millikenchemical.com.