Solutia Begins Producing EVA Encapsulants in China

ST. LOUIS, April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Solutia Inc. (NYSE: SOA) announced today the opening of its new Vistasolar® ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) manufacturing center in Suzhou, China. The new facility recently passed major testing milestones and is now ready to supply commercial-grade Vistasolar EVA encapsulant for use in solar modules. This announcement marks the latest in a series of investments Solutia has made to help solar module manufacturers lower the total cost of production and help make solar energy competitive with traditional sources of energy.

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Solutia is the market leader for EVA films in Europe and the first global supplier to build an EVA manufacturing center in China. Chinese solar module manufacturers currently produce more than half of all modules installed globally, and this new manufacturing center will strengthen Solutia's position to reliably supply high-quality solar encapsulants to the Chinese photovoltaic market. Solutia also produces encapsulants in Germany, Belgium, the United States, Mexico and Brazil.  

"The industry requires reductions in cost per watt for solar energy," said Christopher Reed, Solutia photovoltaic business director. "By investing directly into China, our ability to reduce the total cost of production and enhance our service levels to Chinese module manufacturers is greatly improved."

This is Solutia's first new EVA production facility to be developed after the acquisition of Etimex Solar GmbH of Germany.  The facility is based at the company's Suzhou, China manufacturing center, which also produces Saflex® polyvinyl butyral (PVB) films. Solutia continues to be the only manufacturer of all major photovoltaic module encapsulant technologies, including EVA, PVB and thermal polyurethane (TPU).

"Vistasolar has been a pioneer in EVA encapsulants since 1980. We intend to build on our market-leading position in Europe based on proven, high-quality formulations and finished product," said Tim Wessel, president and general manager of Solutia's Advanced Interlayers division. "Vistasolar EVA is the most recognized and trusted name for encapsulants in the world's largest solar market. This enhances the bankability of the solar module."

With more than 100 years of combined encapsulation process expertise, manufacturing scale and scalability, and a track record of rapid innovation, Solutia is uniquely positioned to provide complete solutions to the world's leading solar module manufacturers. Learn more at www.solutia.com/PV .

Notes to Editor:  Solutia and the Radiance Logo™ and all other trademarks listed below are trademarks of Solutia Inc. and/or its affiliates.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by the use of words such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "intends," "plans," "estimates" or "anticipates," or other comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions.  These statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions about the industries in which Solutia operates.  Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or achievements to be materially different from the future results or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.  These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those risk and uncertainties described in Solutia's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, including under "Cautionary Statement About Forward Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors", and Solutia's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.  These reports can be accessed through the "Investors" section of Solutia's website at www.solutia.com .  Solutia disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in response to new information, unforeseen events, changed circumstances or any other occurrence.

Corporate Profile

Solutia is a market-leading performance materials and specialty chemicals company. The company focuses on providing solutions for a better life through a range of products, including: Saflex® polyvinyl butyral interlayers for glass lamination and for photovoltaic module encapsulation and VISTASOLAR® ethylene vinyl acetate films for photovoltaic module encapsulation;  LLumar®, Vista™, EnerLogic™, FormulaOne®, Gila®, V-KOOL®, Huper Optik®, IQue™, Sun-X® and Nanolux® aftermarket performance films for automotive and architectural applications; Flexvue™ advanced film component solutions for solar and electronic technologies; and technical specialties products including Crystex® insoluble sulfur, Santoflex® PPD antidegradants, Therminol® heat transfer fluids and Skydrol® aviation hydraulic fluids. Solutia's businesses are world leaders in each of their market segments. With its headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, the company operates globally with approximately 3,300 employees in more than 50 worldwide locations. More information is available at www.Solutia.com .

SOURCE Solutia Inc.