A. Schulman Introduces Invision(R) Enhanced Polyolefin Resins for Sheet and Profile Producers

Patent-pending technologies provide processing, performance and appearance benefits, including durable high- or low-gloss "paint-like" surface finishes

• Press Release
• Source: A. Schulman, Inc.
• On 8:00 am EDT, Thursday October 15, 2009

AKRON, Ohio, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A. Schulman, Inc. (Nasdaq: SHLM - News) today announced the introduction of a family of high-performance Invision(®) enhanced polyolefin resins for sheet and profile producers.

Available globally, the product family consists of high melt strength TPO compounds, and durable high-performance olefinic capstock resins. As thermoplastic olefin-based materials, Invision resins provide many benefits in performance, appearance, and processing for sheet and profile extrusion, and thermoforming applications. Furthermore, the resins can be recycled and the regrind incorporated back into the material stream without affecting processing or performance.

"Our Invision enhanced polyolefin resins are well-positioned as high-value products that address the sheet and thermoforming industry's critical needs for durable resins that can also be color-matched to exacting appearance requirements," said Paul Boulier, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of A. Schulman. "We are very pleased to offer the sheet and profile producer market this patent-pending technology -- at a time when new developments in technology are essential to the growth of our global customers."

Invision high gloss capstock resin is noted for its extreme clarity and durable surface, enabling a "paint-like" surface finish without the risk of chipping or peeling and without the environmental challenges resulting from the painting process. Invision TPO resins offer durability and dimensional stability, making them ideal for demanding body panel applications in the Agriculture, RV, Power Sports, Personal Watercraft, Heavy Truck and Bus, Lawn and Garden, Industrial, Building and Construction, and Automotive industries. Typical applications include exterior body panels and trim components, fenders, door panels, housings and enclosures.

Invision materials are based on patent-pending polyolefin compositions that can be used in monolayer or multilayer coextruded sheet and profile applications. The product family includes:

• Invision 1040 resin is a high melt strength thermoformable TPO that balances impact resistance and stiffness, enabling processors and end users to reduce product weight and improve processing efficiency without sacrificing product performance. It can be extruded as a monolayer, or as the substrate of a multilayer sheet or profile structure.

• Invision 3568 resin is a low-gloss, thermoformable, non-stress whitening olefin capstock material. It readily accepts textures in embossed applications and provides a soft, non-tacky feel.

• Invision 3566 resin is a high-gloss, thermoformable, non-stress whitening olefin capstock material. Invision color technology, combined with the high clarity capstock resin, allows the capstock resin to match the appearance of any painted color.

"The superior aesthetics and performance provided by Invision enhanced polyolefin resins in numerous customer evaluations in thermoformed parts make them an excellent solution for applications where durability, good color/surface appearance and light weight are essential," said Boulier. "These products come from A. Schulman's New Product Engine, our innovation pipeline, and bring new materials to assist sheet extruders and thermoformers. This significant technology development complements our existing Invision thermoplastic polyolefin products, which are used extensively in injection molding and select slush molding applications."

For more information about Invision resins, visit the new Web site at www.invisionsheet.com.

About A. Schulman, Inc.

Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, A. Schulman is a leading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds and resins. These materials are used in a variety of consumer, industrial, automotive and packaging applications. The Company employs about 2,000 people and has 16 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. Revenues for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2008, were $1.98 billion. Additional information about A. Schulman can be found at www.aschulman.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Federal securities laws. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts. They use such words as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. These forward-looking statements are based on currently available information, but are subject to a variety of uncertainties, unknown risks and other factors concerning the Company's operations and business environment, which are difficult to predict and are beyond the control of the Company. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements, and that could adversely affect the Company's future financial performance, include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Worldwide and regional economic, business and political conditions, including continuing economic uncertainties in some or all of the Company's major product markets;
• Fluctuations in the value of currencies in major areas where the Company operates, including the U.S. dollar, Euro, U.K. pound sterling, Canadian dollar, Mexican peso, Chinese yuan and Indonesian rupiah;
• Fluctuations in the prices of sources of energy or plastic resins and other raw materials;
• Changes in customer demand and requirements;
• Escalation in the cost of providing employee health care;
• The outcome of any legal claims known or unknown;
• The performance of the global auto market;
• The global financial market turbulence; and
• The global or regional economic slowdown or recession.

Additional risk factors that could affect the Company's performance are set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition, risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that it believes to be immaterial also may adversely affect the Company. Should any known or unknown risks or uncertainties develop into actual events, or underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, these developments could have material adverse effects on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

This release contains time-sensitive information that reflects management's best analysis only as of the date of this release. A. Schulman does not undertake an obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new events, information or circumstances, or otherwise. Further information concerning issues that could materially affect financial performance related to forward-looking statements can be found in A. Schulman's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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