PARAPAN® Acrylic Material Brings Enhanced Color, Gloss and Durability to Kitchen and Bathroom Designs 

Non-Porous Surface Resistant to Moisture All the Way Through is Superior Alternative for Doors, Drawers, and Panels 

 PARSIPPANY, N.J. – April 15. 2008 – CYRO Industries, a subsidiary of Evonik Degussa Corporation, introduces PARAPAN®, a high-gloss solid acrylic material with color all the way through that brings a new level of radiance, gloss, and durability to bathrooms and kitchens. Designed as a single, non-porous solid material that is resistant to moisture, PARAPAN is a superior and more environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional coated, high-gloss fronts and has been used by leading manufacturers, such as Poggenpohl, in Europe for a decade.

“PARAPAN’s appearance, functionality, and durability give homeowners, architects, and interior designers a level of creativity that they previously did not enjoy,” said Debbie Sulewski, PARAPAN product manager. “It sets a new standard in terms of high-gloss furniture fronts that are employed for doors, drawers, and panels in both kitchens and baths.”

PARAPAN is a homogenously colored acrylic material with a brilliant appearance and excellent processing properties. The result is retention of color and gloss, even after processing, eliminating the need for coating. UV-resistant, PARAPAN has unparalleled color fastness and will not lose its lustrous color, even in kitchens and bathrooms that invite considerable sunshine.

Another aesthetic and design advantage of PARAPAN is that it can be thermoformed, so it can follow the contours of a round or oval frame to add style to any door or draw. Its ease of processing also allows for a variety of milling, chamfering and material combinations, so each furniture piece can have its own distinct character. 

PARAPAN is a superior alternative to conventional fronts in terms of durability as well. Unlike typical decorative layers, such as lacquer, laminate, and veneer, PARAPAN is naturally and permanently resistant to moisture through and through, thereby eliminating the potential for furniture to swell. A solvent-free material, PARAPAN can be completely recycled and returned to the manufacturing process, making it a more environmentally sound alternative to coated high-gloss lacquer fronts.

PARAPAN is available in 17 standard colors in thicknesses of 18 mm and 4 mm to give architects, designers, and homeowners a variety of choices. It is delivered as cut-to-size and ready-to-install furniture elements, which includes finished, high-gloss edges with customized edge radius. 

For more information on PARAPAN, contact: CYRO Industries, 379 Interpace Parkway, Parsippany, NJ 07054, USA; Tel: 800-631-5384; Fax: 973-541-8445; or visit www.cyro.com.

CYRO Industries

CYRO Industries is a wholly owned subsidiary of Evonik Degussa Corporation. Headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, CYRO is a leading manufacturer of acrylic sheet and molding compounds, and bulk and performance monomers.  CYRO manufactures and markets its acrylic sheet products under the ACRYLITE® trade name in the Americas. These same products are manufactured and marketed under the PLEXIGLAS® trade name throughout Europe and Asia.

Evonik Industries

Evonik Industries is the creative industrial group from Germany which operates in three business areas: Chemicals, Energy and Real Estate. Evonik is a global leader in specialty chemicals, an expert in power generation from hard coal and renewable energies, and one of the largest private residential real estate companies in Germany. Our strengths are creativity, specialization, continuous self-renewal, and reliability. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In its fiscal year 2007 about 43,000 employees generated sales of about €14.4 billion and an operating profit (EBIT) of more than €1.3 billion (preliminary figures).

Disclaimer In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release