September 7, 2010 - Styron today announced the launch of EMERGE™ PC 8701HH advanced resin in Europe and Asia-Pac. This high performance product tailored for smart meters complements Styron’s existing portfolio of products for the smart-meter manufacturing market. Recent initiatives of both European and North American governments consider smart meters amongst the most promising tools to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

Making Smart Meters Simpler
EMERGE™ PC 8701HH advanced resin is a glass-reinforced ignition-resistant polycarbonate designed for both the terminal block and the case and internal parts. The product offers excellent high heat resistance that exceeds current standards and industry requirements, ensuring outstanding performance. It also meets all the requirements and specifications for the casing, with excellent aesthetics, a new requirement for smart meters. The use of one product for these different parts simplifies the production process for smart meter producers and can lead to reduced costs. Styron’s technical experts developed the new grade in order to meet the requirements defined by the Italian MR&D Institute.

Tailored product portfolio
EMERGE™ PC 8701HH advanced resin complements Styron’s portfolio of products tailored for various smart meter parts. EMERGE™ PC 8330 or the CALIBRE™ 303 series allows for the production of the clear windows that provide consumers with the data they need to make the right decisions about their energy use. EMERGE™ PC 8230 is another grade that manufacturers can select to use to create smart meter casings with a tough, tamper-resistant exterior housing. All of Styron’s products for smart meters use innovative flame retardant technology.

Turning ambitious goals into reality
The future looks bright for smart meter technology to help consumers adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. “The US has set the ambitious goal to reach a 55% penetration of smart meters by 2015 and the European Union has issued the 20/20/20 directive to achieve a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a 20% increase in renewable energy, and a 20% reduction in energy consumption by 2020, including a goal to replace 80% of electric meters with smart meters,” says Lionel Beck, European Smart Meter Market focal point for Styron. “By creating innovative resins that exceed current standards and industry requirements for smart meters, Styron directly contributes to turning these goals into reality.”

For more information on EMERGE 8701HH, please click here.