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16 Apr 2008  -  United States

Direct Pressure Laminate Flooring

New Owens Corning Non-Woven Glass Tissue Raises Fire Resistance and Impact Performance of
Product Opens the Way for Wide Use of Direct Pressure Laminate Flooring in the Commercial Market

Owens Corning has introduced the first non-woven glass tissue reinforcement for Direct Pressure Laminate Flooring (DPL), which raises fire resistance and impact performance to levels that meet commercial standards, as announced on April 1, 2008 . While DPL has long been popular in the residential market, manufacturers will now be able to broaden their DPL product offerings to architects and specifiers for commercial applications such as hotels, restaurants, shops and stores.

Developed by Owens Corning in partnership with Hans Schmid KG, Gronau, Germany, Europe's leading independent impregnation company, and by replacing traditional resonated Kraft paper, the new DPL with resin impregnated glass tissue meets European Norm standard EN13501-1, achieving fire class B(fl). This is complemented by small ball and large ball impact testing according to EN438, which raises impact performance designation to IC3. Moreover, with the new reinforcement system it is possible for usage classification to be raised to a higher level -- from 32 to 33 -- for commercial applications.

"Inherent design flexibility, dimensional stability, superior textured finishing and shorter production times, compared to HPL products, characterize DPL flooring systems," says Russell Evans, Market Manager, OCV Non-Woven Technologies. "Now, with the introduction of Owens Corning's unique glass non-woven reinforcement, these advantages can be combined with higher fire, impact and wear performance to make DPL products a highly attractive alternative for manufacturers and end users in the demanding contract flooring environment."

Robert Huusken, Product Developer, OCV Non-Woven Technologies continues, "In combining the considerable expertise of Hans Schmid KG in melamine and phenolic resin film impregnation with its own unmatched capability in the field of non-woven technologies, Owens Corning has tailored a range of glass reinforcement tissues to match individual laminate applications and deliver consistent performance in the DPL process."

The new glass tissue reinforcement is now globally available in sheet form as a ready-to-press product.

With manufacturing locations in the USA, Netherlands and the UK, Owens Corning's OCV Non Woven Technologies Business is an innovator in the fabrication of a wide variety of OC® Veils and Specialty Non-Wovens. Made from randomly dispersed Advantex® proprietary glass fibers, wet laid and bonded into a thin sheet these materials are used to reinforce products that include residential and commercial flooring, carpet tiles and gypsum boards, as well as exterior-use materials.

Following approval by regulatory authorities in Europe and the United States, Owens Corning completed the acquisition of Saint-Gobain's Reinforcements and Composite Fabrics businesses for $640 million on November 1, 2007. The acquisition accelerates Owens Corning's global growth strategy and strengthens its position as a market leader in glass reinforcements and composites. 

About Owens Corning
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 53 consecutive years, Owens Corning is committed to driving sustainability through delivering solutions, transforming markets and enhancing lives. Founded in 1938, Owens Corning is a market-leading innovator of glass fiber technology with sales of $5 billion in 2007 and 19,000 employees in 26 countries on five continents.

Source : Owens Corning