Owens Corning Composite Solutions

OWENS CORNING ACQUIRES AUTOMOTIVE ASSETS OF LANCASTER FIBRE TECHNOLOGY

Product Range Complements Current Silentex® Offerings from Owens Corning

Toledo, Ohio, U.S.A. February 24, 2004—Owens Corning Automotive (UK) Ltd., a member of the Owens Corning family of companies, has acquired the automotive assets of UK-based Lancaster Fibre Technology Ltd. Lancaster Fibre Technology has traditionally supplied automotive solutions to the UK auto industry based on Owens Corning’s Silentex® Noise Control automotive silencer technology. Owens Corning has been a Lancaster supplier and customer for many years.

The products manufactured at Lancaster complement the current Silentex product technology supplied by Owens Corning to the global automotive silencer market – Advantex® direct rovings, silencer filling packs, and Silentex™ filling machines. The acquisition allows Owens Corning to extend its range of offerings and help maintain continuous supply to Lancaster’s automotive customers, and current operations will continue with fiber supplied by Owens Corning L’Ardoise, France, and Birkeland, Norway, facilities.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for Owens Corning and our customers,” said Dr. Andrew Hopkins, general manager of OC™ Automotive. “Through acting quickly and decisively, we have ensured future growth for Owens Corning and enhanced the value we deliver to our customers. This is a clear demonstration of our purpose -- to deliver solutions, transform markets and enhance the lives of those we touch.

“Owens Corning has no plans to relocate the UK-based Lancaster facility,” continued Hopkins. “Rather, we will upgrade and improve the facilities that have been purchased, as part of our commitment to help drive innovation and deliver solutions for our customers, to meet the ever-increasing requirements of the automotive business in the UK and elsewhere.”

Owens Corning’s Silentex Noise Control System is a total noise control solution that meets extensive requirements for silencer manufacturers and automotive OEMs. The Silentex Noise Control System is made with continuous glass fiber roving that offers outstanding sound absorption properties and better long-term performance than traditional glass fiber and wool filling products. A patented injection-filling process uses 20 percent less roving to meet regulated noise levels and reduces the overall weight and cost of the silencer.


Notes for editors


Owens Corning

Owens Corning is a world leader in building materials systems and composite solutions. Founded in 1938, the company had sales of $5 billion in 2003. Additional information is available at the Owens Corning website: www.owenscorning.com

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Alan Flower
EMG

+31 164 317 025

aflower@​emg.nl

 

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