PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bayer, as part of its year-long celebration of the company’s 150th anniversary, has built an airship to tour the world as an international ambassador. The Bayer Airship will visit the United States on May 16-23, making stops in New York and New Jersey.
“We are delighted that the airship will visit the United States as part of our 150th anniversary celebration to demonstrate Bayer’s longstanding commitment to our communities,” said Philip Blake, President, Bayer Corporation. During the U.S. visit, the Bayer Airship will fly near the Statue of Liberty and visit the future home of Bayer HealthCare LLC’s U.S. headquarters in Whippany, N.J.1
Bayer AG, the parent company of Bayer Corporation, designed the airship using Bayer high-tech materials. The Bayer Airship is outfitted in the corporate colors – blue and green – and bears the Bayer Cross and company mission – “Science For A Better Life” – across the hull.
The airship began its world tour on February 28 as part of the Spring Financial News Conference in Leverkusen and will make stops on five continents. In addition to its stop in the United States, the World Tour will include visits to international metropolitan areas such as Johannesburg, Tokyo, Singapore, Rio and Barcelona. In addition to the pilot and copilot, the gondola of the airship has room for two passengers, giving them the opportunity to experience the world from above.
The Bayer Airship combines traditional aviation technology with advanced materials. The hull is made of nearly 5,000 feet of coated fabric. The gondola is clad in the transparent plastic Makrolon® produced by Bayer MaterialScience. The gondola structure, which is among the heaviest components, is made of aviation steel.
Maximum launch weight of the airship is 1,980 pounds, including the crew, the motor, the burner control system and additional equipment. Lift is provided the same way as in a hot air balloon – by heated air. Propulsion is provided by a 65 HP motor and propeller, and horizontal control is done by a power steering system. The airship’s jacket is protected by environmentally compatible, high-adhesion coatings which contain Bayer MaterialScience products Bayhydrol®, Bayhydur® and Desmodur®.
Aviation fans can follow the world tour at www.150.bayer.com and on the Bayer Facebook page, or can participate in the photography contest that is accompanying the airship tour. Bayer plans to keep flying the airship even after the anniversary year.
Social Media Users:
Facebook: facebook.com/BayersMSMS
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twitter.com/BayerUSNews
YouTube:
youtube.com/BayerChannel
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pinterest.com/bayerus/
About Bayer Corporation
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. As an inventor company, it sets trends in research-intensive areas. Bayer’s products and services are designed to benefit people and improve the quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and acts as a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen. In fiscal 2012, the Group employed 110,500 people and had sales of €39.8 billion. In North America, Bayer had 2012 net sales of €9,576 million ($12,257 million) and employed 15,300 at year-end. For more information, go to www.bayerus.com.
About Bayer MaterialScience LLC:
Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with approximately 14,500 employees at 30 production sites around the world and 2012 sales of 11.5 billion euros. The company manufactures high-tech polymer materials and develops innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical, and sports and leisure industries. Sustainability is central to Bayer MaterialScience LLC's business and is based around the key areas of innovation, product stewardship, social responsibility and respect for the environment.
For more information about Bayer MaterialScience visit www.bmsnafta.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup 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 Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
1 As previously announced, Bayer HealthCare LLC is in the process of moving its headquarters to Whippany, N.J. The new site is expected to open in June.
