TOLEDO, Ohio, March 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Owens Corning
(NYSE: OC), the leading global producer of glass fiber
reinforcements for composite systems, today formally announced its
inclusion in a strategic alliance with BASF and TenCate Advanced
Composites. The goal of the alliance is to develop optimal
solutions in thermoplastic composites for automotive mass
production.
According to Owens Corning Group President Arnaud Genis, "There is a critical and
growing need in the automotive industry to have lighter, stronger
and more environmentally efficient products. Glass fiber
solutions are not fully leveraged and by combining the talent and
resources of Owens Corning, BASF and TenCate - all industry leaders
- we will be able to take significant weight out and find the
optimum solutions for our customers quickly, and with the highest
quality design and structure."
Strategic alliance
In this strategic alliance:
- BASF contributes comprehensive knowledge in the production and
formulation of thermoplastic resins,
- TenCate Advanced Composites brings its expertise in composites
manufacturing, and
- Owens Corning brings the technology to develop superior and
tailor made fabrics and glass reinforcement solutions.
"A dramatic reduction in processing cost will be essential for
the success of composite materials in automotive lightweight
construction," explains Dr. Martin
Jung, Head of Structural Materials Research and spokesman
for BASF Research toward the automotive industry. Jung
continues, "Continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites,
such as tapes and laminates used in thermoforming processes, have
huge potential for structural parts. By working together with Owens
Corning and TenCate we form a strong alliance for the development
of these thermoplastic composites."
Dave Clark, Global Group Director
of TenCate Advanced Composites, states: "The alliance with
Owens Corning, BASF and TenCate combines leading glass fiber,
resins and thermoplastic prepreg technology which is essential for
enhancing innovation power and building a reliable supply chain for
automotive composites."
Global emission standards for vehicles continue to increase the
need for lighter vehicles that maintain strength and
durability. Compared to metal parts, fiber reinforced
plastic composites can be 30 to 50 % lighter. Thermoplastic
composites help increase fuel efficiency in automobiles and reduce
costs for consumers. Thermoplastic processing also dramatically
reduces production cycle times. Additionally, these products
have no limitations in shelf life and can be
recycled.
Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) 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 58 consecutive
years, Owens Corning is committed to driving sustainability by
delivering solutions, transforming markets and enhancing
lives. Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2013, Owens
Corning is a market-leading innovator of glass-fiber technology
with sales of $5.2 billion in 2012
and approximately 15,000 employees in 27 countries on five
continents. Additional information is available at
www.owenscorning.com.
TenCate Advanced Composites is a leader in the
development and production of thermoplastic and thermoset prepreg
composites for various industries. Its product portfolio is
incorporated into automotive products, medical equipment and
numerous other applications. TenCate Advanced Composites has
production facilities and operations in North America, Europe and Asia.
Additional information is available at
www.tencateadvancedcomposites.com
Royal Ten Cate (TenCate)
is a multi-national company that combines textile technology with
related chemical processes and material technology in the
development and production of functional materials with distinctive
characteristics. Products of TenCate are sold worldwide. Systems
and materials from TenCate come under four areas of application:
safety & protection, space & aerospace, infrastructure
& the environment, and sport & recreation. TenCate occupies
leading positions in protective fabrics, composites for space and
aerospace, anti-ballistics, geosynthetics and synthetic turf.
TenCate is listed on the NYSE Euronext (AMX). Additional
information is available at www.tencate.com
About BASF
BASF is the world's leading chemical
company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals,
plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil
and gas. We combine economic success with environmental protection
and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we
enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current
and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute
to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality
of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate
purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted
sales of €78.7 billion in 2012 and had more than 113,000
employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the
stock exchanges in Frankfurt
(BAS), London (BFA) and
Zurich (AN). Further information
on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
SOURCE Owens Corning