Re-starting second production line at Besana, Italy plant in early fourth quarter will increase the company's global CFM production by nearly 40 percent

TOLEDO, Ohio, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Owens Corning (NYSE: OC), a leading global producer of glass fiber reinforcements for composite systems and residential and commercial building materials, announced today that to meet market demand, the company will increase production of continuous filament fiber glass mat reinforcements by re-starting a second production line at its manufacturing facility in Besana, Italy in October. The action will increase Owens Corning production of continuous filament mat (CFM) by nearly 40 percent compared to the current quarter.

Chuck Dana, group president, Composite Solutions at Owens Corning, said the production increases demonstrate the company's commitment to the composites industry and to supporting current market demand.

"As demand for specific glass fiber products regains strength, we will respond quickly and adjust our reinforcement production to provide the materials our customers need," explained Dana.

The second CFM line at Besana was shut down in 2008 as a result of the global economic downturn. Owens Corning also operates a CFM production line at its manufacturing facility in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Productivity was also improved earlier this year by adding fiber-forming equipment to the production lines at both Besana and Guelph.

Glass fiber CFM is used as a reinforcement in pultrusion and closed molding processes such as vacuum infusion and resin injection. The markets for end-use products made with CFM reinforcements include industrial profiles for hand rails, grating and ladder components, boat hulls, automotive bumpers and hoods, and wind blades. There are also specialty CFM products used in applications such as cold-storage.

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.

SOURCE Owens Corning

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