FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2002

Atoglas exhibits full line of polymer sheet substrates for the sign industry

ORLANDO, FL, April 4, 2002 -- Atoglas displayed its full line of acrylic and polycarbonate sheet products at the International Sign Association Expo held here at the Orlando Orange County Convention Center this week. The Atoglas booth contains panels, information, and samples of three new products and several traditional sheet products formulated for the sign industry.

According to Tom DeMain, Marketing Manager, sign fabricators can pick from a full spectrum of performance and aesthetic properties. "Our new products this year include Plexiglas® sheet formulated for hiding intense LED sources in channel letters, new colors for Implex® Plus impact acrylic sheet for channel letters, and a brighter white Tuffak® XL weatherable polycarbonate sign sheet," says DeMain. "Other examples exhibited include sheet designed for edge lighting; for enhanced resistance to impact, abrasion, solvent crazing, and UV; and for frosted surface effects—all in a wide variety of colors and dimensions. With this comprehensive line-up of substrate solutions, one or more of our sheet products will fit virtually any sign application,” he says.

Acrylic sheet products for signs

* New Plexiglas® light diffusing LED acrylic sheet (patent pending) formulated specifically for channel letters using light emitting diodes (LEDs) as light sources.

* New Implex® Plus acrylic sheet colors for channel letters. Aside from colorless sheet, Implex Plus colors now available include blue, green, three reds, yellow, orange, ivory, white, and black.

* Plexiglas ELiT acrylic sheet designed especially for edge lighting on one or two sides, using florescent tubes or LED sources. Edge-lit technology permits straight or curved frames for lighted displays as slim as 1.5-inch.

* Plexiglas Blue/White and Black/White acrylic sheet that appears white when back lit at night and blue or black during the day. These properties permit creative designs and effects that change depending on whether the sheet is illuminated.

* Plexiglas Frosted acrylic sheet, containing tiny integral beads scattered throughout the sheet to provide an integral frosting effect. This frosted sheet, available in multiple colors, provides unusually high luminous transmission coupled with excellent hiding power.

* Plexiglas G acrylic sheet, the classic cell cast sheet, having the best overall balance of properties, including impact resistance, light weight, outstanding optical clarity, excellent weatherability, and ease of fabrication. Plexiglas G acrylic sheet comes in sign and lighting whites, black, and five transparent colors. Thicknesses range from 0.118 to 1 inch.

* Plexiglas MC acrylic sheet, an economical melt-calendered standard acrylic sheet made by continuous extrusion. This sheet offers superior weatherability, clarity, and processing characteristics. Colors include sign white and black plus more than 25 other translucent and transparent colors.

* Implex acrylic sheet, incorporating a proprietary technology that improves impact resistance over standard Plexiglas sheet by a factor of eight.

* Plexiglas SQ acrylic sheet, modified for higher resistance to crazing by solvents, thinners, and paints. Aside from better craze resistance, the new sheet has higher heat resistance and better machining properties than standard acrylic sheet.

Polycarbonate sheet products for signs

* New whiter Tuffak® XL sign white polycarbonate sheet that combines the toughness of polycarbonate sheet with an integrated UV light-resistant barrier to improve weatherability.

* Tuffak S polycarbonate sign grade sheet, the toughest transparent sheet available. UV-stabilized and thermoformable, this sheet comes on reels or as sheet stock in thicknesses ranging from 0.06 to 0.5 inch. It’s available in colorless, sign white, and solar tints.

* Tuffak CM-2 is coated polycarbonate sheet that combines abrasion resistance with impact resistance. This sheet meets DOT requirements for cleaning and comes in colorless or solar tints. Thicknesses range from 0.118 to 0.5 inch.

For more information on Plexiglas and Tuffak polymer sheet for signs, contact Tom DeMain, Marketing Manager, Atoglas, 2000 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Phone: (215) 419-7605.

About Atoglas
Atoglas is a global business that manufactures and markets sheet and polymer products worldwide. In North, South, and Central America, these are sold as Plexiglas® acrylic sheet and Plexiglas acrylic molding and extrusion resins. Atoglas also markets Tuffak® polycarbonate sheet and Implex® impact acrylic sheet. In Europe, acrylic resins are sold under the Oroglas® trade name and acrylic sheet under Altuglas®. In Asia Pacific, acrylic resins are marketed as Oroglas® and acrylic sheet as Goldglas®.

www.atoglas.com
www.plexiglas.com

About Atofina Chemicals
ATOFINA Chemicals, Inc. produces high-performance chemicals and polymers. Headquartered in Philadelphia, ATOFINA Chemicals employs 3,000 people, and reported sales in 2001 of $1.4 billion. ATOFINA Chemicals is part of ATOFINA, the world's 5th largest chemical company with 72,000 employees and sales in 2001 of $17.5 billion (EUR19.6 billion). ATOFINA is the chemical branch of TotalFinaElf (NYSE: TOT), the world's 4th largest oil and gas company with 123,000 employees and sales in 2001 of $94 billion (EUR105 billion).

www.AtofinaChemicals.com

Plexiglas, Tuffak, Implex, Oroglas, Altuglas, and Goldglas are registered trademarks, and Atoglas is a trademark, belonging to Atofina.

Atoglas
2000 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: +1 (215) 419-5013
Fax: +1 (215) 419-7930
E-Mail: anita.palmieri@atofina.com
Website URL: www.atoglas.com