Material Sciences Corp.’s Engineered Materials and Solutions Group plans to open an Engineering Center of Excellence in Canton, Mich., a suburb of Detroit.

"The Center of Excellence is a result of the close relationships we have developed with our customers over the years," explained President and CEO Ronald L. Stewart. "Our goal is for the center to do applications development work for Quiet Steel^(R) and other acoustical/thermal products. In addition, we will conduct product research and development to create complementary products that will be as useful to the automotive industry as Quiet Steel."

MSC has leased approximately 56,000 square feet of space in Canton for a 12-year period, which it expects to occupy it January 2006. The company also plans to move its regional sales offices to this location.

Material Sciences Corp. is a leading provider of material-based solutions for electronic, acoustical/thermal and coated metal applications. MSC uses its expertise in materials, which it leverages through relationships and a network of partners, to solve customer-specific problems, overcoming technical barriers and enhancing performance. MSC differentiates itself on the basis of its strong customer orientation, knowledge of materials combined with the offer of specific value propositions that define how it will create and share economic value with its customers.