Replicas of Cryptex™ Security Box That Appeared in The Da Vinci Code Use Bayer Films Americas’ Polycarbonate Film and Bayer MaterialScience’s Fantasia® Technology

PITTSBURGH, August 31, 2006 — Now fans of the blockbuster book and movie The Da Vinci Code can own a replica of one of the story’s centerpieces ­ the Cryptex™ security box ­ thanks to the efforts of Justin Nevins, founder of JKN Enterprises.

The Cryptex box is a cylindrical puzzle used to unlock secrets in Dan Brown’s best-selling novel and subsequent movie. Nevins became interested in creating a security box modeled after the novel’s description of the puzzle more than two years ago. After completing a handcrafted version of the box using marble spacer rings and brass “letter” rings, Nevins decided to create a replica version that would be less costly and less time consuming to produce.

Nevins’ had been working with Benchmark Injection Molding on the handcrafted security box. They suggested contacting Bayer Films Americas due to their expertise in laminates and injection molding. Finding the right combination of materials and technologies that would provide the proper marble aesthetics was a riddle in itself. Nevins worked closely with Bayer MaterialScience and Bayer Films Americas for one year to solve this challenging puzzle.

The result: spacer rings utilizing Bayer Films Americas’ Makrofol® DE 7-2 polycarbonate film and FARIA® special effects technology that are a “dead ringer” for the marble rings featured on the handcrafted Cryptex security box.

FARIA technology, one of the Fantasia family of color and special effects technologies, utilizes film insert molding (FIM) technology to produce custom graphics by incorporating thin films that can be printed with any pattern, design or graphic (in this case, white, crimson, purple, blue, black or green marble) directly onto a part.

“With the special effects enabled by FARIA technology, it is possible to produce sharp, long-lasting visual effects because the graphic design elements are protected by the film layer and integrated into the design of the part,” explained John Skabardonis, manager, Fantasia Products & Consumer Markets, Bayer MaterialScience. “The film acts like a ‘skin,’ providing depth to the graphics while protecting them so they will not scratch, fade or peel off.”

Makrofol DE 7-2 translucent polycarbonate film offers a unique combination of low gloss and enhanced abrasion-resistant features. This textured polycarbonate film is supplied with a velvet first surface and very fine matte second surface, and is well-suited for automotive, labels, nameplates and packaging applications. Bayer Films Americas’ Makrofol DE 7-2 polycarbonate film is treated with a coating that makes the film receptive to the HP Indigo digital printing process.

After the marble effect is printed onto the film, the film’s second surface is laminated with an adhesive specially formulated by Bayer MaterialScience for this application, forming a thermal barrier that allows the ink to withstand the heat of the injection molding process. The marble-patterned film is then cut to size. The molder places the film strip into an injection mold. Resin is shot behind the film, forming a finished integral part that does not require any post-molding operations. Nevins connects the spacer rings with the engraved brass rings to produce the replicas of the Cryptex security box.

“I called different companies to try their products in the replica, but none worked as well as Bayer’s,” said Nevins, who has received hundreds of reservations for the puzzle boxes.

“Their customer service has been outstanding, and customer service is the most important thing in anything I do. If it weren’t for Bayer MaterialScience’s ideas, technical suggestions and expertise, this project would not have come to fruition,” he continued.

“At Bayer Films Americas it is our goal to be the supplier of choice,” said Patrick Griffin, senior technical service engineer, Bayer Films Americas. “Justin has put a lot of hard work into this project, and we’re pleased that we could play a role in bringing it to life.”

For more information about the Cryptex security box, visit www.cryptex.org.

For more information on molding, contact Benchmark Injection Molding, 425-741-3648, or visit www.benchmarkmolding.com.

For more information about Makrofol film, contact Bayer Films Americas at 1-866-659-9023 or visit www.bayerfilms.com.

For more information about FARIA technology and other Fantasia color and special effects, visit www.BayerFantasia.com.

Bayer Films Americas, a Division of Sheffield Plastics Inc., offers unique specialty films that provide excellent weatherability and chemical resistance for outdoor applications. They also offer excellent light diffusing characteristics for automotive applications, improved chemical resistance and actuation life for membrane switches, and excellent flame-retardant properties for display uses.

This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in our public reports filed with the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form 20-F). The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

Please send all reader service leads to the attention of Cindy Kahlstrom, Sheffield Plastics Inc., 119 Salisbury Road, Sheffield, MA 01257; email to cindy.kahlstrom@bayerbms.com

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