OMN OMNOVA Solutions Inc

FAIRLAWN, Ohio, June 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- OMNOVA Solutions (NYSE:OMN) today announced the recipients of its 2006 Technology Awards. This annual award program recognizes exemplary technology-based contributions by associates in OMNOVA's research and development, sales and marketing, technical service, operations, product management and LEAN SixSigma organizations. Technology innovations support activities in a number of OMNOVA's processes and end use markets, including paper making, functional in-mold coatings and performance coated fabrics. Recipients hail from across OMNOVA Solutions, including its Performance Chemicals business segment facilities in Akron, Ohio, Chester, South Carolina and Green Bay, Wisconsin; and Decorative Products business segment facilities in Columbus, Mississippi and the Company's joint venture partners in Shanghai, China and Rayong, Thailand. "Through innovation, OMNOVA is able to build on its leadership positions across many of our served markets," said Kevin McMullen, OMNOVA Solutions' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "This year's award recipients have demonstrated OMNOVA's commitment to increasing the value we deliver to our customers and markets through innovative products and processes. As we broaden our reach in the global marketplace, the efforts of these and many other OMNOVA employees will be critical for success." Innovation titles, summaries and recipients are as follows: Aftermarket Vehicle Soft-Top Anthony E. Nix - Columbus, Mississippi Rodney L. Cuevas, Jr. - Rayong, Thailand Dr. Jared Kuang - Shanghai, China CG-OMNOVA Joint Venture Pornchai Rattisetsada - Shanghai, China CG-OMNOVA Joint Venture Associates from OMNOVA and its joint venture in Shanghai, China, developed a technologically-advanced vehicle soft-top for an aftermarket customer, while adhering to very stringent criteria. This team led a larger, cross-functional group in an effort to design and produce a high-performance, aesthetically-pleasing and more cost- effective product for the customer. This innovation also features characteristics that broaden the Company's capabilities and product offerings. 100% Active Paper Coating Lubricants Eugene Reagan - Chester, South Carolina Ron Waite - Akron, Ohio Technology Center Frank M. Schumann - Akron, Ohio Technology Center Ed Miller - Akron, Ohio Technology Center A cross-functional team of associates from OMNOVA and its RohmNova paper chemicals joint venture with Rohm and Haas developed a non- traditional paper lubricant for high-speed, hot roll paper calendering. Paper coating lubricants are added to coatings during production and used as processing aids to help the paper travel through paper coating calenders, providing slippage and non-stick characteristics. Latex Recovery/Waste Recycling Timothy R. Budz - Green Bay, Wisconsin Joe Gracyalny - Green Bay, Wisconsin Leon Valley - Green Bay, Wisconsin This team recognized an opportunity to contribute to OMNOVA's ongoing efforts to enhance the environmental sustainability of its products and processes. This project reclaims and recycles useable latex from prefloc, a byproduct of latex production. By converting a wine press into a rudimentary extruder, OMNOVA's Green Bay facility is able to separate reusable materials from the prefloc, "wringing them out like a sponge." The useable materials are then recycled or sold. GenGlaze(R) EC-2500 High Performance In-Mold Coating Elliott J. Straus - Akron, Ohio Technology Center Mina Garcia - Akron, Ohio Technology Center Rick Harshbarger - Akron, Ohio Technology Center David Sizer - Akron, Ohio Technology Center Brian J. Sullivan - Akron, Ohio Technology Center Expanding one of OMNOVA's core competencies, this team from the Company's Technology Center in Akron, Ohio developed an in-mold coating, based on a "next generation" family of products, which features superior flow and improved adhesion. GenGlaze(R) EC-2500 in- mold coating can adhere to a number of different substrates used in the production of fiberglass parts for the heavy truck and marine industries. OMNOVA Solutions Inc. is a technology-based company with 2006 sales of approximately $700 million and a current workforce of 1,700 employees worldwide. OMNOVA is an innovator of emulsion polymers, specialty chemicals, and decorative and functional surfaces for a variety of commercial, industrial and residential end uses. Visit OMNOVA Solutions on the internet at http://www.omnova.com/. GENGLAZE is a registered trademark of OMNOVA Solutions Inc. DATASOURCE: OMNOVA Solutions Inc. CONTACT: Sandi Noah, Communications, +1-330-869-4292, or Michael Hicks, Investor Relations, +1-330-869-4411, both of OMNOVA Solutions Inc. Web site: http://www.omnova.com/

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