MHK Mohawk Industries Inc

Combination of Three Renowned Brands Will Bring Benefits to Carpet Consumers and Retailers ST. LOUIS and ATLANTA, Dec. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wear-Dated carpet fiber business of Solutia Inc. (OTC:SOLUQ) (BULLETIN BOARD: SOLUQ) has announced a strategic branding initiative with two of the other leading brands in the carpet industry: Mohawk Industries (NYSE:MHK) and 3M Scotchgard (NYSE:MMM). This initiative will bring consumers a valuable combination: the renowned durability of Wear-Dated carpet fibers and the stain protection of the new Scotchgard Protector Advanced Repel Technology in more than 80 stylish Mohawk carpet products. Pre-introduction consumer testing showed that a carpet combining the Wear-Dated, Scotchgard and Mohawk brands is preferred by consumers in every important brand and purchase consideration. "By delivering a unique combination of three well-recognized brands -- Wear-Dated, Scotchgard and Mohawk -- we are helping consumers easily identify carpets they can trust," said Gary Lanser, general manager of Solutia's carpet fiber business. "Carpet retailers should benefit from this increased emphasis on branded products, which will be supported by an aggressive marketing program. In addition, we will continue our outstanding tradition of fiber technology innovation, assuring a stream of options for Mohawk product development, for the retailer, and for the consumer." Solutia is the world's largest producer of nylon 6,6 carpet fiber, the fiber specified most often by professional architects and engineers. In the past 25 years, more than two billion yards of carpet have been produced using Solutia's Wear-Dated carpet fiber, improving more than 13 million homes. To earn the Wear-Dated label, the carpet fiber must pass a strenuous battery of performance tests for wear, soil, stain, light-fastness, tuft bind and static resistance. The result is peace-of-mind for the consumer and retailer, particularly since Wear-Dated offers a full, non pro-rated warranty. "Nylon is the building block of the modern world. It provides tremendous value, as evidenced by the fact that we find nylon fibers and nylon plastics everywhere -- from carpet to car parts," said Jonathon Wright, president of Solutia's Integrated Nylon Division. "This initiative marks a fundamental shift toward the increased use of brands to help consumers understand the value of our products." Solutia has recently launched a program to help educate the carpet industry about the value of nylon 6,6 carpet fibers, particularly in light of the unprecedented increases in raw material costs for synthetic carpet fibers in recent years. Through a straightforward, fact-based presentation, Solutia helps carpet retailers understand the changing dynamics of the industry - and to focus on the inherent value of carpet as a high-performance floor covering. For more information on this educational program, please contact Christine Whittemore at or (973) 283-2424 or your Wear-Dated regional manager. About Solutia Solutia ( http://www.solutia.com/ ) uses world-class skills in applied chemistry to create value-added solutions for customers, whose products improve the lives of consumers every day. Solutia is a world leader in performance films for laminated safety glass and after-market applications; process development and scale-up services for pharmaceutical fine chemicals; specialties such as water treatment chemicals, heat transfer fluids and aviation hydraulic fluid and an integrated family of nylon products including high-performance polymers and fibers. Solutia ... Solutions for a Better Life. About Wear-Dated(R) Carpet Fiber Solutia is the manufacturer of Wear-Dated carpet fiber, which is made from 100 percent premium nylon 6,6 -- the fiber specified most often by professional architects and interior designers. Carpets made with Wear-Dated carpet fiber are tough tested and certified for unsurpassed durability, assuring carpet that looks better longer and is backed by full five-year normal wear and full seven-year stain and soil warranties. For more information, visit http://www.weardated.com/ . Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by the use of words such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "intends," "plans," "estimates" or "anticipates," or other comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. These statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions about the industries in which Solutia operates. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or achievements to be materially different from the future results or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in Solutia's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, under "Cautionary Statement About Forward-Looking Statements," Solutia's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and in filings with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in connection with the Chapter 11 case of Solutia Inc. and 14 of its U.S. subsidiaries. These reports and filings can be accessed through the "Reorganization" and "Investors" sections of Solutia's website at http://www.solutia.com/ . Solutia disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in response to new information, unforeseen events, changed circumstances or any other occurrence. DATASOURCE: Solutia Inc. CONTACT: Media, Dan Jenkins, +1-314-674-8552, or Investors, Tim Spihlman, +1-314-674-5206, both of Solutia Inc. Web site: http://www.solutia.com/ http://www.weardated.com/

Copyright