Campion Marine selects Ashland’s Envirez® bio-based resin for all new boat construction

DUBLIN, Ohio – Canada’s largest fiberglass boat builder, Campion Marine Inc., is bringing improved environmental performance to its customers by being the first boat builder in the world to manufacture all of its boats with Envirez® bio-derived resin from Ashland Performance Materials, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH).  Envirez resin is the first resin that uses a substantial amount of soybean oil and corn derived ethanol in its formulation.

“Ashland’s bio-based resin delivers the performance characteristics we want for our boats and it reduces our reliance on petroleum-based counterparts,” said Brock Elliott, general manager, Campion Marine. “We are putting Envirez resin in all our boats. It is the right next step, and it is right for our world. Envirez resin’s performance delivers higher ratings for strength and elongation. Our vision is to build the best from the best and that makes Envirez resin a natural choice.”

Ashland selected Campion Marine to test Envirez resin in 2008 resulting in the world’s first bio-based resin boats being built. Data from those tests support Envirez resin’s use in high performance and recreational watercraft. Based on confirmed research, the move to Envirez resin by Campion will eliminate more than 100,000 pounds of C02 from entering the atmosphere.

“We are pleased to be working with a great company like Campion to bring this technology to the boating public,” said Mike Wallenhorst, director of product management, Ashland Performance Materials. “Envirez is a fantastic product that offers outstanding toughness and is a big step towards a totally renewable resin. It’s exciting to realize that hundreds of boats made from Envirez resin will soon be navigating the world’s waterways thanks to Campion.”

Campion Marine has been building high-performance sport boats and cruisers for 36 years. The company, at its facilities in Kelowna, Canada, builds the Allante line of sport boats and cruisers, the Explorer sport utility watercraft, Chase high-performance boats and the Svfara wake/surf tow boats. They manufacture more than 37 models and 48 variations of boats ranging from 16 to 30 feet in length and market and sell their boats in more than 30 countries.

Ashland Performance Materials is the global leader in unsaturated polyester resins and vinyl ester resins.  In addition, it provides customers with leading technologies in gelcoats, pressure-sensitive and structural adhesives, and metal casting consumables and design services.

Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) provides specialty chemical products, services and solutions for many of the world’s most essential industries. Serving customers in more than 100 countries, it operates through five commercial units: Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients, Ashland Hercules Water Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials, Ashland Consumer Markets (Valvoline) and Ashland Distribution. To learn more about Ashland, visit www.ashland.com.      

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