BRUSSELS, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Owens Corning today announced the company will re-start its glass fiber reinforcement manufacturing facility in Vado, Italy, during the fourth quarter, which has been converted to the company's patented boron and fluorine-free Advantex technology platform. The platform offers a higher performing glass fiber and a significantly smaller environmental footprint compared with standard E-glass processes.
The Advantex glass fiber process is more energy efficient, resulting in less demand for fossil fuel and emissions reductions of up to: (1)
-- 40 percent carbon dioxide -- 75 percent nitrogen oxides -- 40 percent sulfur oxide -- 90 percent particulates
"As business activity regains strength in the region and globally, we're excited to not only be re-starting capacity to meet customer demand, but also to be bringing technology online that's great for our customers, great for our company, and great for the planet," said Arnaud Genis, vice president and managing director, Europe, OCV(TM) Reinforcements.
Owens Corning Chief Sustainability Officer Frank O'Brien Bernini added, "Reducing the environmental footprint and energy intensity of our manufacturing facilities underscores our commitment to sustainability while providing products that benefit our customers."
The Vado conversion is part of a previously announced plan to install Advantex glass technology in composites facilities acquired from Saint-Gobain in 2007. The Vado plant produces chopped glass fiber strands primarily used to reinforce thermoplastics in a variety of applications for the transportation, consumer and electronics markets.
For other glass fiber applications and markets, Advantex glass also provides improved product corrosion resistance, higher softening-point temperatures and higher tensile modulus. Better product performance in aqueous environments is a benefit for such composite applications as pipe and storage tanks, oil field equipment, sea walls, cooling towers and pollution control facilities.
About Owens Corning
Owens Corning is a leading global producer of glass fiber reinforcements and engineered materials for composite systems and residential and commercial building materials. A Fortune 500 Company for 55 consecutive years, Owens Corning is committed to driving sustainability through delivering solutions, transforming markets and enhancing lives. Founded in 1938, Owens Corning had sales of $6 billion in 2008 and about 16,500 employees in 30 countries. OCV(TM) Reinforcements, OCV(TM) Technical Fabrics and OCV(TM) Non-Woven Technologies are the three main business units that make up the Owens Corning Composite Solutions Business. The business delivers a broad range of reinforcement products that provide lightweight alternatives to steel, wood and aluminum, thereby reducing weight and improving energy efficiency. Additional information is available at http://www.owenscorning.com/.
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(1) The comparison is typical for OCV plant conversions. Actual results vary from plant to plant.
Owens Corning
CONTACT: Kerry Desberg of Owens Corning, +1-419-248-5939,
kerry.desberg@owenscorning.com
Web Site: http://www.owenscorning.com/
