Owens Corning Upgrades to More Energy Efficient, Lower Emitting Technology

Owens Corning is continuing conversion of its composite glass manufacturing facilities to its patented Advantex technology platform.

Owens Corning says that the platform offers a higher performing glass fibre and a significantly smaller environmental manufacturing footprint compared with standard E-glass composite processes. Key environmental and product benefits include:

Before its recent acquisition of Saint-Gobain's reinforcements and composite fabrics businesses, Owens Corning had already converted nearly 80 percent of its composite plants to Advantex technology, and in this new phase, is extending the conversion program to the additional facilities that came with the purchase. Facilities in Hangzhou, China; Alcala, Spain; Thimmapur, India; and Anderson, South Carolina, in the United States have recently been converted. Plant conversions in Doudian, China, and Vado, Italy, will be completed by the end of 2009.

"This technology and these conversions are great for our company, our customers, and our planet," said Frank O’ Brien-Bernini, chief sustainability officer for Owens Corning. "Our results in reducing the environmental footprint and energy intensity of our manufacturing facilities underscores our commitment to greening our operations while providing products that benefit our customers."

"These conversions allow us to truly deliver on the full promise of realizing the synergies of the acquisition by not only reducing our environmental footprint, but also ensuring we have a more global manufacturing platform to better service our customers with a high-performing product," added Chuck Dana, group president of Owens Corning Composite Solutions.

With the acquired Saint-Gobain reinforcements and composite fabrics businesses, the Owens Corning Composite Solutions business now has 42 production facilities in 16 countries and more than 9,000 employees.