DuPont Expands its Surfaces Portfolio with New Offering

[Huligar]

May 23, 2006 Granite Certified by DuPont Broadens Spectrum of Premium Surfacing Solutions WILMINGTON, Del., - As the global leader in the surfaces industry, DuPont is expanding its surfaces portfolio by launching Granite Certified by DuPont, the company’s first all-natural stone surface. The company’s addition of granite to its surfaces offering responds to the growing demand for premium-grade material and provides consumers and designers with a broader spectrum of premium surfacing solutions. “With this newest offering, DuPont continues our leadership role in the surfaces industry -- providing customers with the unsurpassed performance, selection and service they expect from a leader,� said Mark P. Vergnano, vice president and general manager – DuPont Building Innovations. “For example, the demand for granite has grown tremendously over the last few years, leading to a reduction in quality. In response, the new Granite Certified by DuPont undergoes an extremely careful inspection and selection process to assure the product meets the rigorous quality standards set by DuPont. In addition, it is protected by an innovative DuPont proprietary sealant that fills in natural cracks, helps repel stains and maintains the stone’s natural hue.� Granite Certified by DuPont is available in 15 core colors with an expanded retail channel offering based on regional market needs. DuPont also has trained and authorized each installer to assure that customers’ overall installation experience of Granite Certified by DuPont is positive. Granite Certified by DuPont also comes with a 10-year limited installed warranty, covering fabrication, installation and a one-year warranty against stains. It is backed by the DuPont 5-point advantage, which includes: 1. Superior Materials – Rigorous quality control standards ensure every countertop is produced from the world’s finest materials. 2. Certified Installation – DuPont has redefined the installation experience by introducing and exclusively using DuPont Certified Professionals, trained and authorized by DuPont. 3. Expert Service – The DuPont Customer Care team is focused on your satisfaction. If you have any questions about your installation experience, simply call 800-246-1421 to speak with a Care Team specialist. 4. Exceptional Warranty – Every countertop from DuPont is covered by a warranty for product, craftsmanship and installation; backed by a network of DuPont Authorized Service Agents. 5. World of Experience – With over 35 years of experience in countertop installations, more than 5 million DuPont countertops have been installed, consistently attaining a customer satisfaction rating of 98 percent. With the addition of Granite Certified by DuPont, consumers now have a complete DuPont Surfaces portfolio to consider, including: * Entry level products: DuPont Simplicity and DuPont™ Corian® Select Series. * Premium products: DuPont™ Corian® and DuPont ™ Corian® Private Collection. * High-end custom products: Granite Certified by DuPont and DuPont™ Zodiaq®. Granite certified by DuPont is offering a 15-color palette including: Gris Perla Ubatuba Baltic Brown Santa Cecilia Verde Peacock Kashmir Gold Tan Brown Tropic Brown Black Impala Giallo Ornamentale Blue Pearl Kashmir White Black Galaxy Absolute Black New Venetian Gold DuPont Building Innovations is a strategic business unit of DuPont focused on offerings for architects, designers and builders. DuPont™ Corian® is a well-known global brand in the solid surface category and DuPont™ Zodiaq® is a premium surfacing material made almost entirely of pure quartz crystals. Information on all DuPont Surfaces products: Granite Certified by DuPont, Corian®, and Zodiaq® are available at www.countertops.dupont.com. DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.

[Jeff Leun]

F Dupont!

[Huligar]

Jeff leun, why would you make that statement.

You are a member of the SFA I would hope that what DuPont has done is the same thing that the SFA was doing. I do not know what standers they the SFA or Dupont has but do you not think this is a step in the right direction?

the new Granite Certified by DuPont undergoes an extremely careful inspection and selection process to assure the product meets the rigorous quality standards set by DuPont.

I will try and see if we can get someone from DuPont to stop on in and tell us a little more.

[Topshop]

The thing I do not like about this is that they are going to limit the fabricators who can buy it to the people who are licensed for their ES and keep a hold of the product. This will only keep the prices up and their profits. They play an evil skummy game on the consumers and fabricators. I know my local CT dist warehouse sales staff are skum. They would not sell me ES to fabricate because I sell natural stone for less than their ES but at the same time offered to sell me corian to be fabricated in my wet fab shop and offered to sell me their overpriced sinks. I promtly showed the rep the door and reminded him to never come back. They leave a bad taste in my mouth - pompass a$$es.