Reopening of CertainTeed Ceilings Plant in Meridian, Miss., Marks Growing Demand for Company's Innovative Acoustical Products

VALLEY FORGE, Pa., June 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Citing confidence in the construction industry's ongoing recovery, CertainTeed Ceilings is reopening and expanding its ceilings manufacturing facility in Meridian, Miss. The announcement is the culmination of a re-invigoration of CertainTeed's ceilings business and positions the company to meet growing demand for its innovative acoustical solutions.

"Bringing the Meridian plant back on-line is central to strengthening CertainTeed's leadership position in the acoustical product marketplace," said Graham Thayer, vice president and general manager of CertainTeed Ceilings. "The added production capacity, along with our focus on Environmental Acoustics™ research, will enable us to grow with the commercial construction market and continue to provide customers with sophisticated solutions for creating sustainable, comfortable and healthy interior environments."

The Meridian plant produces a range of acoustical ceilings used in commercial applications. CertainTeed is investing $24 million into the reopening of the plant, which had previously been idled in August 2009 due to uncertainty in the construction market. The company expects the plant to resume operations by mid-2014, bringing 110 jobs to the community by 2016. Ongoing updates and employment information are available at www.certainteed.com/Meridian.

To commemorate the announcement, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant and Meridian Mayor Cheri Barry joined CertainTeed representatives for a tree planting ceremony, symbolizing the company's renewed commitment to growth in the local community.

"We're excited for the opportunity to become a part of the Meridian community once again and are eager to get back to work as quickly as possible," said Thayer. "This city has always shown a dedication and strong work ethic that I'm confident will help us to continue offering our customers the most sustainable and innovative acoustical solutions in the industry."

The plant's reopening is the most recent example of CertainTeed's commitment to its reemerging ceilings business.

In January 2013, the company formed a joint venture with Bailey Metal Products Limited of Concord, Ontario — the largest lightweight steel framing manufacturer in Canada. With the joint venture, CertainTeed Ceilings brings a combination of technical expertise and production capacity to the North American market, providing customers with a single source for high-quality ceiling panels and grid systems.

Earlier this year, the company announced the opening of a new state-of-the-art research and development facility in Kulpsville, Pa., ensuring its acoustical products are fine-tuned for optimal performance. CertainTeed also operates ceiling panel plants in L'Anse, Mich., and Plymouth, Wis., as well as ceiling grid production facility in Ellenton, Fla.

Already this year, CertainTeed Ceilings has introduced six new products, including high-density fiberglass Ecophon^® Wall Panels, Gyptone^® BIG™ Quattro 46 perforated acoustical gypsum panels, and the innovative Rx Symphony^® family of ceiling panels optimized for healthcare settings. The company also continued to build on its industry-leading portfolio of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) by certifying Symphony^® m mineral fiber and VOC Compliant Symphony^® f fiberglass ceiling panels through UL Environment.

As experts in the science of sound, CertainTeed Ceilings serves as a single source for high-quality ceilings that create acoustically friendly, aesthetically captivating environments. Encompassing the Performa^®, Ecophon and Gyptone brands along with Decoustics^®— a leader in high-precision, custom-engineered solutions — the company offers the perfect balance of innovation, budget and beauty with products that range from basic high-performance panels to premium, customizable systems. Through its Environmental Acoustics design and research, CertainTeed Ceilings provides solutions that promote healthier interiors while having a smaller impact on the environment. The company offers ceiling panels with one of the highest concentrations of recycled content in the industry as well as a recycling program for used ceiling panels. CertainTeed Ceilings is the first ceilings manufacturer to issue Environmental Product Declarations through UL Environment and The Green Standard. For more information, visit www.certainteed.com.

About CertainTeed

Through the responsible development of innovative and sustainable building products, CertainTeed, headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa., has helped shape the building products industry for more than 100 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Manufacturing Company, the firm's slogan "Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed," quickly inspired the name CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed® is North America's leading brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, fence, decking, railing, trim, insulation, gypsum and ceilings.

A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, the world's largest building products company, CertainTeed and its affiliates have more than 5,700 employees and more than 60 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada. For five consecutive years, the company has received top honors from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its contributions in protecting the environment and was most recently the recipient of the 2013 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award. The group had total sales of approximately $3.3 billion in 2012. www.certainteed.com

For more information contact:
Michael B. Loughery, CertainTeed
(610) 341-7328
[email protected]
www.certainteed.com/pressroom

SOURCE CertainTeed Corporation