Lyon, FRANCE – April 11th, 2012 – TechnylStar® advanced polymers from Rhodia Engineering Plastics have enabled the designing and launching of a revolutionary thermoplastic hand pallet truck (HPT) called the I-ton.

Developed in close collaboration with the Italian company Lifter S.r.l. (a subsidiary of the Pramac Group) a leading, imaginative creator and manufacturer of innovative materials handling equipment, the new I-ton thermoplastic HPT has the toughness of steel yet it is elegant due to the greater design freedom and part surface aesthetics provided by metal-replacing TechnylStar® advanced polymers
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“I-tonis a highly ergonomic, light, silent and manoeuvrable hand pallet truck almost entirely manufactured from polyamide thermoplastic materials and weighs half as much as a standard steel hand pallet truck and yet is capable of lifting 1000kg,” comments Federico Piersimoni, CEO of Lifter S.r.l. “This ambitious project was made possible thanks to our strong commitment in research and development of innovative technologies and the collaboration with Rhodia Engineering Plastics, whose know-how and high performance polymers’ formulation enabled us to substitute steel, the conventional material used in traditional fork lifting equipment.” 
 
TechnylStar® offers processors and molders significant cost, time and energy saving advantages speeding up the manufacturing process of the revolutionary thermoplastic I-ton hand pallet truck. In addition, the end-of-life products are recyclable.

“Collaborating and supporting customers who choose to switch from steel to thermoplastic materials is fully in line with Solvay’s commitment to propose innovative and sustainable solutions,” said Raul Bellini Key Account Manager Italy for Rhodia Engineering Plastics. “Using Rhodia Engineering Plastics’ sophisticated, advanced predictive simulation tools and services allowed us to accurately and quickly optimize part design thereby radically and cost-effectively shortening time-to-market.”


Rhodia Engineering Plastics, a member of the Solvay group, creates new materials in response to its customers’ needs through a global network of customer support centres equipped with cost-effective predictive simulation services. TechnylStar®, the high-fluidity range from Rhodia Engineering Plastics based on PA6 and 6.6, exists in various reinforced versions, from the mid-reinforced TechnylStar® S and AF ranges to the highly reinforced TechnylStar® SX and AFX ranges. Combining outstanding mechanical performance and incomparable processability makes TechnylStar® SX and AFX the ideal choice for lightweight metal substitution.



TechnylStar® is a registered trademark of Rhodia, a member of the Solvay group.

Rhodia, member of the Solvay group, is a specialty chemical company resolutely committed to sustainable development. As a leader in its businesses, the Group aims to improve its customers’ performance through the pursuit of operational excellence and its ability to innovate. Structured around 11 Global Business Units, Rhodia is the partner of major players in the automotive, electronics, flavors and fragrances, health, personal and home care markets, consumer goods and industrial markets. Rhodia employs around 14 250 people worldwide and generated sales of €6.17 billion in 2011.

For information, please visit our institutional website at  www.rhodia.com

SOLVAY is an international chemical Group committed to sustainable development with a clear focus on innovation and operational excellence. Its recent acquisition of specialty chemicals company Rhodia created a much larger player, which is realizing over 90% of its sales in markets where it is among the top 3 global leaders. Solvay offers a broad range of products that contribute to improving the quality of life and the performance of its customers in markets such as consumer goods, construction, automotive, energy, water and environment, and electronics. The Group is headquartered in Brussels, employs about 29,000 people in 55 countries and generated EUR 12.7 billion in net sales in 2011 (pro forma). Solvay SA (SOLB.BE) is listed on NYSE Euronext in Brussels and Paris (Bloomberg: SOLB.BB – Reuters: SOLBt.BR).

For information, please visit our institutional website at  www.solvay.com

Pramac S.p.A., a company listed on the MTA market organized and managed by the Italian Stock Exchange develops, manufactures and markets worldwide systems for electricity generation, in particular, generator sets and the new line of micro wind turbines called "RevolutionAir”. Moreover, the Pramac Group, always in the alternative energies field, develops, manufactures and markets the latest generation of “thin film” photovoltaic modules – “Pramac LUCE Micromorph®”, through its subsidiary Pramac Swiss S.A.. Moreover, through its subsidiary Lifter S.r.l. develops, manufactures and markets in-house and warehouse handling systems. The Pramac Group, managed by its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Paolo Campinoti, includes 37 companies in 21 countries, employs a staff composed of over 800 employees and operates worldwide through six manufacturing plants, including one in Italy (in Casole d’Elsa, Siena) and five abroad (Spain, France, China, Switzerland and US) controlling a distribution network of 22 commercial branches.

For information, please visit our institutional website at  www.pramac.com



Contacts:

Industrial Media Relations
Alan Flower
+32 474 117091
alan.flower@indmr.com

Rhodia Engineering Plastics
Jérôme Pisani
+33 4 26 19 70 87
jerome.pisani@eu.rhodia.com

Pramac S.p.A.
Image Building
+39 02 89011300
pramac@imagebuilding.it