Rhodia Becomes First HDI-based Aliphatic Polyisocyanate Supplier to Achieve QS-9000 CERTIFICATION

Business Wire, April 19, 1999

FREEPORT, Texas, and CRANBURY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 1999--

Rhodia Inc. has achieved QS-9000 certification for its North American industrial coatings manufacturing facility in Freeport, Texas, and its supporting administrative and research and development services located in Cranbury, N.J.

With this certification, Rhodia now becomes the first and only HDI-based aliphatic polyisocyanate raw material supplier to attain Quality System Requirements QS-9000.

"At Rhodia, quality and customer focus are core values for us," said Frank Bria, director of Rhodia's North American Coatings & Construction Materials business. "Achieving QS-9000 certification demonstrates our commitment to providing our customers with the highest quality products. Our goal is continuous improvement to exceed our customers expectations in terms of quality and service."

In Freeport, Rhodia manufactures Tolonate(R) aliphatic polyisocyanate resins which are used for their co-binder function, in association with polyols, in polyurethane paint systems. Rhodia's Tolonate(R) family of polyisocyanates offers customers high-quality, durable, non-yellowing polyurethane systems that are widely used for industrial and automotive finishes.

The certification was awarded by ABS Quality Evaluations following a complete audit of Rhodia's quality management system. QS-9000 is the supplier quality standard for Chrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation.

Rhodia (NYSE:RHA), one of the world's leading specialty chemicals companies, employs 24,500 people worldwide and in 1998 recorded sales of $6.4 billion. Rhodia is a subsidiary of Rhone-Poulenc S.A. (NYSE: RP), a leading life sciences company.