Product Opens the Way for Wide Use of Direct Pressure Laminate Flooring in
the Commercial Market
PARIS, April 1, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Owens Corning (NYSE: OC)
has introduced the first non-woven glass tissue reinforcement for Direct
Pressure Laminate Flooring (DPL), which raises fire resistance and impact
performance to levels that meet commercial standards. While DPL has long
been popular in the residential market, manufacturers will now be able to
broaden their DPL product offerings to architects and specifiers for
commercial applications such as hotels, restaurants, shops and stores.
Developed by Owens Corning in partnership with Hans Schmid KG, Gronau,
Germany, Europe's leading independent impregnation company, and by
replacing traditional resonated Kraft paper, the new DPL with resin
impregnated glass tissue meets European Norm standard EN13501-1, achieving
fire class B(fl). This is complemented by small ball and large ball impact
testing according to EN438, which raises impact performance designation to
IC3. Moreover, with the new reinforcement system it is possible for usage
classification to be raised to a higher level -- from 32 to 33 -- for
commercial applications.
"Inherent design flexibility, dimensional stability, superior textured
finishing and shorter production times, compared to HPL products,
characterize DPL flooring systems," says Russell Evans, Market Manager, OCV
Non-Woven Technologies. "Now, with the introduction of Owens Corning's
unique glass non-woven reinforcement, these advantages can be combined with
higher fire, impact and wear performance to make DPL products a highly
attractive alternative for manufacturers and end users in the demanding
contract flooring environment."
Robert Huusken, Product Developer, OCV Non-Woven Technologies
continues, "In combining the considerable expertise of Hans Schmid KG in
melamine and phenolic resin film impregnation with its own unmatched
capability in the field of non-woven technologies, Owens Corning has
tailored a range of glass reinforcement tissues to match individual
laminate applications and deliver consistent performance in the DPL
process."
The new glass tissue reinforcement is now globally available in sheet
form as a ready-to-press product.
With manufacturing locations in the USA, Netherlands and the UK, Owens
Corning's OCV Non Woven Technologies Business is an innovator in the
fabrication of a wide variety of OC(R) Veils and Specialty Non-Wovens. Made
from randomly dispersed Advantex(R) proprietary glass fibers, wet laid and
bonded into a thin sheet these materials are used to reinforce products
that include residential and commercial flooring, carpet tiles and gypsum
boards, as well as exterior-use materials.
Following approval by regulatory authorities in Europe and the United
States, Owens Corning completed the acquisition of Saint-Gobain's
Reinforcements and Composite Fabrics businesses for $640 million on
November 1, 2007. The acquisition accelerates Owens Corning's global growth
strategy and strengthens its position as a market leader in glass
reinforcements and composites. Owens Corning is exhibiting in Hall 1.1
Booth P18 at the annual JEC Composites Show -- the company's first major
industry platform since the acquisition -- held at the Expo Paris, Porte de
Versailles, Paris, France, April 1-3, 2008.
About Owens Corning
Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) is a leading global producer of residential
and commercial building materials, glass fiber reinforcements and
engineered materials for composite systems. A Fortune 500 company for 53
consecutive years, Owens Corning is committed to driving sustainability
through delivering solutions, transforming markets and enhancing lives.
Founded in 1938, Owens Corning is a market-leading innovator of glass fiber
technology with sales of $5 billion in 2007 and 19,000 employees in 26
countries on five continents. Additional information is available at
http://www.owenscorning.com.
SOURCE Owens Corning
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Related links:
http://www.owenscorning.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/677350.html /
CONTACT:
Kerry Desberg of Owens Corning,
+1-419-248-5939, kerry.desberg@owenscorning.com; or Alan Flower
of EMG, +31-164-317-025, aflower@emg.nl
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