“The R&D 100 Awards are the gold standard in the fields of technology and research and we’re honored to be among the companies that have been selected as developing a major break-through product,” said George Hamilton, president of Dow Automotive. “New technologies and the solutions that they deliver to any product or industry can result in significant advantages. It’s not always easy to embrace new technology, but the payoff can be huge when the solution hits the mark.”

BETAMATE LESA enables polyolefins and dissimilar substrates to be bonded without the use of pretreatment, thus saving time and cost. The technology is used globally in the design and manufacture of automotive front-end carriers, addressing industry-wide requirements for cost and weight restrictions, stiffness and pedestrian safety. Two 2007 model year vehicles, one a sport utility vehicle and the other, a crossover utility vehicle, from a major North American manufacturer will also feature bonded hybrid front-end carriers. Additional LESA applications currently in global development include instrument panels and liftgates.

The R&D 100 Awards competition has recognized leading technologies since 1963 and is open to global competition. The sole purpose of the event is to select the 100 most technologically significant new products from among many entries. Previous winners have included HDTV, the printer, the fax machine and the automatic teller machine. This year’s winners will be announced in the September issue of R&D Magazine.

BETAMATE LESA also has earned recent recognition from the Society of Plastics Engineers International and the PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers’ Contribution to Excellence) Award competition from Automotive News.

About Dow Automotive

Dow Automotive is a leading supplier of plastics, adhesives, sealants and other plastics-enhanced products for interior, exterior, under-the-hood, vehicle body structure and acoustical management applications. The organization serves global tier, OEM and aftermarket customers. With offices and application development centers around the world, Dow Automotive provides materials science expertise and comprehensive technical capabilities to its customers worldwide. For additional information about Dow Automotive products and services, visit www.dowautomotive.com

About The Dow Chemical Company

Dow is a diversified chemical company that harnesses the power of science and technology to improve living daily. The Company offers a broad range of innovative products and services to customers in more than 175 countries, helping them to provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. Built on a commitment to its principles of sustainability, Dow has annual sales of $46 billion and employs 42,000 people worldwide. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.