Houston, TX – October 7, 2008 – Global plastics information and services provider Townsend Polymer Services and Information (Townsend) announced today that Joseph P. Congdon has joined the company as Director Global Polypropylene Consulting.

In this role, Congdon is responsible for the global consumption & capacity market study Townsend Polypropylene Report (TPPR), Congdon will be based in Houston, TX. According to Managing Director of Consulting Bill Urquhart, “Joe brings 27 years of diverse and international polyolefin experience covering polymerization, marketing, compounding and final conversion. He’s a tremendous asset to the Townsend team”.

Congdon spent 18 years at Basell where he was responsible for marketing and new business development in the consumer, medical, geomembrane, building and construction and media packaging markets. He led technical and market support teams both in the USA and for their International business. He is a trained six sigma black belt.

In 1988 at Advanced Polypro Resins in Marysville MI (now part of Flint Hills Resources) Congdon created the product development team for the first Hypol process plant in North America. They introduced one of the first reactor TPOs and developed a product offering that was strong in high impact copolymers for automotive applications.

Early in his career Congdon worked with the team at the El Paso Polyolefin pilot plant (now also part of Flint Hills Resources) that pioneered fourth generation Ziegler-Natta supported catalysts that revolutionized the polyolefin industry. Coincidentally, Congdon was born the same year polypropylene was invented.

Headquartered in Houston, TX, Townsend is a leading provider of consulting services and information to clients in the plastics industry, worldwide. Townsend's unique position is based on its expert knowledge of the industry and its markets, backed up by its leadership in information gathering and analysis since 1972. Townsend's mission is to assist plastic industry clients in becoming more successful and profitable by supporting their business decisions and management processes with valued, objective insights and solutions.

The annual Townsend Polypropylene Report (TPPR) provides detailed answers to demand, supply and trade balance questions. Each report highlights strategic information on a global, regional and country basis, plus on a producer and end-use level.

About Townsend Polymer Serivces and Information
Townsend Polymer Services and Information was founded in 1972 by Phillip Townsend and has grown to be the premier market research and consulting firm in plastics, additives, and related materials industries. With headquarters in Houston, Texas and satellite offices and partners around the globe, Townsend offers regional and international insights into your business.

Townsend is focused on delivering information and consulting services on the markets, companies, and technologies of the chemicals, plastics, and other process industries. This combination of technical depth, market sophistication, and international presence has allowed Townsend to become an industry leader.

Townsend will continue to grow globally with products and services that anticipate the market's information and consulting needs.