Rhodia's Rhodaterge BCC Delivers Effective, Low-Foam Solution for Food and Beverage Industry's Cleaning-in-Place Needs

Business Wire, July 12, 2004

CRANBURY, N.J. -- Brewers, vintners, dairy, juice and soft drink producers and transporters now have a more effective cleaning agent for tanks and other production vessels, without the foam build-up, lost time and inconvenience of repeated rinsing cycles.

Rhodia's (NYSE:RHA) Rhodaterge(R)BCC, a patented, proprietary surfactant system for alkali cleaners in the food, beverage and dairy industries, now provides enhanced performance for cleaning-in-place, combined with low foaming for easier and safer handling.

Rhodaterge(R)BCC delivers very fast wetting, improved cleaning, reduced foam generation and is easily rinsed off. It is easy-to-formulate, thanks to its outstanding stability in high alkaline and acidic formulations. It is also readily soluble in cold water or caustic.

"This is a product that ideally fits the cleaning-in-place needs of beverage producers and transporters," according to Eric Aubay, business development manager for Rhodaterge(R)BCC. "Rhodaterge(R)BCC can help to minimize equipment turnarounds for cleaning, while ensuring consistent, high-quality cleaning performance.

"Cleaning of storage tanks, tank trucks and trailers and other vessels might be a small portion of total costs for beverage manufacturers and transporters. Yet, in today's competitive markets, every advantage is important, especially when consistent performance, convenience, quality and reliability are key factors."

Rhodaterge(R)BCC was developed in Rhodia's Cranbury (NJ) Research and Technical Center in response to a major brewer's need for an effective, low-foaming cleaning agent for its major production equipment. Now the same product features are available for other beverage makers and transporters as well.

"The same features that make this product so effective for brewers are just as important for other beverage processes and equipment," Aubay explains. "And transporters will find its low-foaming characteristics especially attractive."

Rhodaterge(R)BCC is registered in the United States, Canada and Australia and is registered by the National Sanitation Foundation as a general cleaner (A1) on all surfaces in and around food processing areas.

For more information about Rhodia's products for Industrial & Institutional cleaning applications click to www.rhodia-hpcii.com

Rhodia is a global specialty chemicals company recognized for its strong technology positions in applications chemistry, specialty materials & services and fine chemicals. Partnering with major players in the automotive, electronics, fibers, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, consumer care, tires and paints & coatings markets, Rhodia offers tailor-made solutions combining original molecules and technologies to respond to customers' needs. Rhodia subscribes to the principles of Sustainable Development communicating its commitments and performance openly with stakeholders. Rhodia generated net sales of $6.9 billion (EUR 5.4 billion) in 2003 and employs 23,000 people worldwide. Rhodia is listed on the Paris and New York stock exchanges.