Owens Corning Launches FoodContact? Glass Fiber Solution for Reinforced Plastics

First Market-Ready Glass Fiber Reinforcement to Meet Upcoming European Commission Regulations

PARIS, Mar 27, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Owens Corning, a leading global producer of glass fiber reinforcements for composite systems, announced today at the JEC Composites Show that it has pioneered a new solution to help kitchen appliance and food processing equipment manufacturers comply with impending European regulations on glass fiber used in materials for food and drinking water contact.

Owens Corning’s FoodContact™ glass fiber solution for reinforced plastic is designed for use in consumer appliance and food manufacturing products such as kitchen utensils and kitchenware; coffee machines; food preparation equipment; ingredient holding tanks; and drinking water systems.

”Developing an understanding of the markets and regulations early has positioned us to help our customers reduce risk of disruption as they work to comply,” said Owens Corning Composite Solutions Business Director of Global Thermoplastics, Steve Zirkel.

The reinforcements were developed to perform optimally in high-temperature resins like PPS and LCP as well as PPO, PA and polyester-based resins PBT and PET. It is available as glass fiber reinforcement in the form of a chopped strand for use in thermoplastic resins. It is the first product to market that meets the upcoming 2016 European Commission regulations for glass fiber sizing, chemical make-up and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

“The GMP requirements will hold companies to a greater level of accountability across their entire supply chain,” added Zirkel. “With the Owens Corning FoodContact™ products, formulators and manufacturers can be confident they are in compliance with the European Commission standards and delivering a high level of performance.”

FoodContact™ glass fiber solution was developed with consideration for the supply chain to ensure a seamless transition from existing reinforcements to these new compliant materials. Owens Corning collaborated with its thermoplastics customers, custom molders, design firms and product OEMs to fully understand the performance requirements this product needed to meet.

“Sharing our knowledge about the regulation and expertise in material science with our customers and supplying a quality product provides a competitive advantage for them,” continued Zirkel. “We want our customers to succeed and grow.”

The introduction of FoodContact™ glass fiber solution further demonstrates Owens Corning’s deep understanding of the latest food and drinking water safety regulations and how they affect the supply chain. It speaks to the Company’s commitment to the European market as it seeks to deliver high performance materials that are safe and environmentally sound to make, use and dispose of.

About Owens Corning

Owens Corning 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 57 consecutive years, Owens Corning is committed to driving sustainability by delivering solutions, transforming markets and enhancing lives. Founded in 1938, Owens Corning is a market-leading innovator of glass-fiber technology with sales of $5.3 billion in 2011 and about 15,000 employees in 28 countries on five continents. Additional information is available at www.owenscorning.com.