ECOMMERCE LAUNCH

Ticona, a global supplier of engineering thermoplastics, has started up the initial phase of its e-commerce site, Buy Ticona Direct. Accessed from the company's web site, www.ticona.com, it allows U.S. customers to place orders, view open orders and their order history, reprint key documents, and request changes in orders.

Buy Ticona Direct will be expanded to include European, Canadian and Latin American customers in the near future. Future releases will also include many new functions, such as the ability to check payables and status against rebates, support for consignment and bulk shipment customers, and the means to do returns and generate letters of certification online.

The site, a fully configured e-business function, allows for personalized service. For instance, Ticona Customer Service Repre sentatives will walk customers through the site the first time. They will explain features, help set up passwords and advise customers on which site functions will best meet their needs. In addition to on-line help screens, site users can access three levels of help off-line. They can speak to customer service representatives, to subject matter experts, or to an information technology help desk.

Ticona will also be part of Omnexus.com, an alliance between BASF, Bayer, Dow, DuPont, and Ticona/Celanese AG.

For more information, contact Patricia Asbaty at 908-598-4348, Judy Bennett-Keating at 908-598-4382, or visit their website at www.ticona.com.