TOLEDO, Ohio, June 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Owens
Corning (NYSE: OC) Cem-FIL®
alkali-resistant (AR) glass fibers will take the field at the
opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup at Soccer City Stadium in
Johannesburg, South Africa,
June 11. The newly redesigned stadium
features fibreC® concrete panels from Rieder Smart Elements,
reinforced with Cem-FIL® AR fibers, which reduce the weight and
thickness of the concrete by up to 10 times compared to
conventional panels. They are 100 percent recyclable; and enhance
building life and durability with resistance to corrosion, fire, UV
light and temperature variations.
(Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100609/CL18358 )
"The world continues to raise the bar on sustainability in
building materials," said Owens Corning Chief Sustainability
Officer Frank O'Brien-Bernini. "Demand is increasing for
resource-efficient, lighter, stronger, more durable and more
recyclable materials. Products such as Owens Corning Cem-FIL® glass
fibers are quickly becoming must-haves in order to meet evolving
building standards."
O'Brien-Bernini added that despite slower construction growth in
many markets around the world, demand for fiber additives in cement
and concrete is forecast to increase 6.6 percent per year through
2012.* "The use of Cem-FIL® in buildings like Soccer City Stadium
is certainly helping drive that momentum," he said.
The Rieder fibreC® panels featuring Owens Corning Cem-FIL® AR
glass fibers provide these advantages:
- Cem-FIL® fibers deliver significantly higher tensile strength
than steel at much lighter weight and lower mass.
- Cem-FIL® fibers provide excellent weatherability, fire
resistance (class A1 according to the DIN standard) and durability
to reduce maintenance and extend useful life.
- After grinding, old panels are recyclable with up to 15 percent
regrind utilized for the fabrication of new fibreC® panels, while
100 percent regrind can be added to concrete mixes. The composition
of fibreC® panels allows the material to be recycled, so it is
listed in the GreenSpec® directory as an environmentally preferable
product and evaluated for U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED®
credits.
Design freedom is another advantage of the
glass-fiber-reinforced fibreC® panels. The façade of the stadium
evokes a traditional African calabash cooking pot, requiring
markedly curved panels. By enabling thinner and lighter panels,
Owens Corning Cem-FIL® glass fibers help make it possible to create
these sculpted forms without compromising strength and resilience.
The fibreC® panels are available in standard and custom colors; a
palette of earth tones was chosen for the stadium cladding.
"Products like Cem-FIL® are indispensable in changing the way
building materials can perform," said Rieder Chief Executive
Officer Wolfgang Rieder. "The world
is changing and the solutions we deliver must change along with it.
This is a revolutionary time for the construction industry."
Chosen as one of 10 venues that will host 2010 World Cup
matches, Soccer City Stadium began renovations in January 2007 and was completed in October 2009. The three-tier stadium soars 60
meters (197 feet) into the air, stretches across 300 meters (984
feet) and can accommodate 95,000 fans.
About Owens Corning Alkali-Resistant Glass Fibers
Owens Corning AR glass fibers
have the same density as cement and therefore do not float or sink,
providing excellent dispersion in the matrix. They do not corrode
and are resistant to the acids and alkalis present in concrete. The
fibers provide strong, durable performance in a wide variety of
cement- and mortar-based applications, including such primary
structural elements as flooring, renders, top screeds, tunnels and
utility poles. Cem-FIL® AR glass fiber reinforcements are
available worldwide in rovings, chopped strands, meshes and mats.
For more information, visit
www.ocvreinforcements.com/solutions/Cem_FIL.asp.
About Rieder
Rieder is a family-owned company with headquarters in Maishofen,
Austria. For almost 50 years, the
company has been known as a leading specialist innovating solutions
for concrete as a building material. Additional information is
available at www.rieder.cc.
About Owens Corning
Owens Corning is a leading
global producer of glass fiber reinforcements and engineered
materials for composite systems and residential and commercial
building materials. A Fortune 500 company for 56 consecutive years,
Owens Corning is committed to driving sustainability through
delivering solutions, transforming markets and enhancing lives.
Founded in 1938, Owens Corning had sales of $4.8 billion in 2009 and about 16,000 employees
in 28 countries on five continents. OCV™ Reinforcements, OCV™
Technical Fabrics and OCV™ Non-Woven Technologies are the three
main business units that make up the Owens Corning Composite
Solutions Business. The business delivers a broad range of
reinforcement products that provide lightweight alternatives to
steel, wood and aluminum, thereby reducing weight and improving
energy efficiency. Additional information is available at
www.owenscorning.com.
® Cem-FIL is a registered trademark of Owens Corning.
® fibreC is a registered trademark of Rieder Smart Elements
GmbH.
® GreenSpec is registered trademark of BuildingGreen, Inc.
® LEED is a registered trademark of U.S. Green Building
Council.
*Freedonia study, Concrete Additive Industry study and
forecast for 2012 and 2017
SOURCE Owens Corning