Dow Automotive is dedicated to delivering fast, cost effective and usable answers to our customers' toughest interior, exterior, powertrain, vehicle structure and acoustical management application questions. Whether it's developing new and innovative parts or materials, testing product characteristics, analyzing vehicle component design, optimizing a solution or assuring a turnkey system, Dow Automotive is ready to participate and respond to OEM needs.

Much of this begins with Central Research and Development. Home to Dow's world class analytical labs and exploratory research efforts for creating new company ventures, researchers in Central R&D work on the leading edge of technology, exerting major influences on Dow's future direction. Their responsibilities fall within the all-encompassing classification of material science and development.

Research and Development (R&D) enables corporate growth through market-driven scientific and technical innovation. This function enhances current product platforms and creates the product platforms of the future. It develops production processes required for new products and breakthrough technology for existing processes to improve current business. R&D members of commercial application teams help assess customer needs and match product solutions, or help create new Dow products for emerging requirements.

Dow Automotive, along with R&D, draws upon the vast resources of The Dow Chemical Company to ensure a constant stream of innovative thinking for raw material development that will provide the backbone for inventive products, processes and applications for continued growth and customer value. In 2004, Dow invested nearly $900 million (U.S.) in R&D. Measured by expenditures, 2/3rds of R&D efforts go toward value growth (investing in the future). And our investment in the future is our investment in our relationships with our customers.

For more information on our services, or to speak with a Technical Service Representative, please contact Excellerate (our Customer Technical Call Center) at 1.800.309.0988 between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST or email us at dowautomotive@dow.com.