| For Dow: Terri Howe, APR Howe Marketing Communications, LLC +1 616-997-6235 | For Phifer Incorporated: Phifer Incorporated +1 205-345-2120 |
Flexible Vinyl Fabrics Offer a Touch of Green
Dow and Phifer Incorporated Announce
Dow Inside License Agreement for Flexible Vinyl Fabrics
Houston, TX and Tuscaloosa, AL, U.S.A. – April 18, 2012 – Two industry leaders have come together to offer exciting new alternatives in flexible vinyl fabrics. Phifer Incorporated, the world’s leading producer of energy-saving fabrics, is the latest company to sign a Dow Inside Trademark Licensing Agreement with science and technology leader The Dow Chemical Company (Dow). Phifer will be using DOW ECOLIBRIUM™ Bio-Based Plasticizers in several of their vinyl-coated fabrics in the window covering, sun control shading, floor covering, wall covering and outdoor furniture fabric markets. Phifer plans to roll out the first of these applications in its SheerWeave® sun control fabrics at the International Window Coverings Expo 2012, April 24-26 in Chicago , IL
“Our SheerWeave® interior sun control fabrics were the first to be certified by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) for superior indoor air quality performance,” said Mark Edwards, Senior Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing of Phifer Incorporated. “By incorporating DOW ECOLIBRIUM into our process, we not only have the potential to reduce our own manufacturing carbon footprint but also offer our end users a greener fabric solution that maintains the same performance, look and feel of standard SheerWeave sun control fabrics.”
Made from virtually 100% renewable feedstock, the use of DOW ECOLIBRIUM Bio-Based Plasticizers in flexible vinyl compounds may help durable goods original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by up to 40%1if used instead of traditional diisononyl phthalate PVC plasticizers. In addition, specification of end products made with DOW ECOLIBRIUM Bio-Based Plasticizers can potentially contribute toward LEED credits subject to verification by the US Green Council Ratings.
“With a growing emphasis on green building products, Dow is proud to provide a technology that offers so many sustainable options for durable goods manufacturing,” said Dirk Zinkweg, Global Platform Leader for Interiors & Specialties at Dow. “Our relationship with Phifer will provide an excellent opportunity for moving so many more of those options into the commercial and residential building marketplace.”
Phifer Incorporated will be making its initial introduction of products made with DOW ECOLIBRIUM™ Bio-Based Plasticizers in its SheerWeave® 4000/4100 and 4400 window covering styles. Please visit them during the International Window Coverings Expo 2012 at McCormick Place North
More information about DOW ECOLIBRIUM Bio-based Plasticizers is available at www.dow.com/ecolibrium.
More information on Phifer’s SheerWeave fabrics is available by calling 205-345-2120 or emailing an inquiry through the company’s website at www.phifer.com.
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About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2011, Dow had annual sales of $60 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 197 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
About Phifer Incorporated
Phifer Incorporated was established in1952 as a weaver of aluminum insect screening. Today the company is the largest producer of aluminum and fiberglass insect screening, high performance interior and exterior woven sun control fabrics and outdoor furniture fabrics. Phifer’s commitment to its customers extends to its concern to protect the environment. Phifer offers a broad range of products to reduce solar heat gain, preserve interior surfaces and materials, improve indoor air quality in home and work environments and protect natural resources by conserving energy. Phifer is a privately-owned company with manufacturing facilities located in Tuscaloosa , Alabama USA and Ningbo , China California , Italy and India
1 Based on lifecycle analysis (LCA) tests conducted by The Dow Chemical Company and third-party reviewed.
™ DOW ECOLIBRIUM is trademark of The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") or an affiliated company of Dow.
®SheerWeave is a registered trademark of Phifer Incorporated
®The DOW DIAMOND is a registered trademark of The Dow Chemical Company
