10.17.14
Owens Corning, a leading global producer of glass fiber reinforcements for composite systems, is building a new advanced technology facility in Gastonia, NC to help meet demand for bio-based products. The new, state-of-the-art equipment will add manufacturing flexibility to produce different widths of the company's new Sustaina nonwoven glass fiber fabric. This will enable more customers to use the product in their applications.
Sustaina surfacing and reinforcing glass nonwovens were introduced to the European market in June 2013. The Sustaina solution uses a bio-based binder system with high tensile strength performance and does not contain any formaldehyde. The new plant will be able to run four-meter widths of Sustaina fabric, rather than the narrower width currently produced on existing assets.
"Building a new site is a great opportunity for us to install the newest, most advanced manufacturing technology," says Steven Vermeulen, vice president and managing director, Engineered Solutions. "The line is designed to facilitate the highest level of quality and efficiency – the flexibility to produce the wider veil will help us get better yields and there will be less waste."
Sustaina fabric, is designed for use in residential and commercial building applications, like cushion vinyl flooring, ceiling backings, and insulation facers. For carpet tiles, Sustaina nonwovens’ high hot tensile strength is an advantage over nonwovens with acrylic binders. Sustainanonwovens also offer significant cost savings over conventional non-urea-formaldehyde nonwovens.
"With our Gastonia plant, we'll be able to meet the growing demand for Sustaina nonwovens," Vermeulen adds. "It's a way we can help our customers move toward their environmental objectives while also improving their performance."
Sustaina surfacing and reinforcing glass nonwovens were introduced to the European market in June 2013. The Sustaina solution uses a bio-based binder system with high tensile strength performance and does not contain any formaldehyde. The new plant will be able to run four-meter widths of Sustaina fabric, rather than the narrower width currently produced on existing assets.
"Building a new site is a great opportunity for us to install the newest, most advanced manufacturing technology," says Steven Vermeulen, vice president and managing director, Engineered Solutions. "The line is designed to facilitate the highest level of quality and efficiency – the flexibility to produce the wider veil will help us get better yields and there will be less waste."
Sustaina fabric, is designed for use in residential and commercial building applications, like cushion vinyl flooring, ceiling backings, and insulation facers. For carpet tiles, Sustaina nonwovens’ high hot tensile strength is an advantage over nonwovens with acrylic binders. Sustainanonwovens also offer significant cost savings over conventional non-urea-formaldehyde nonwovens.
"With our Gastonia plant, we'll be able to meet the growing demand for Sustaina nonwovens," Vermeulen adds. "It's a way we can help our customers move toward their environmental objectives while also improving their performance."