New Owens Corning Scrap and Waste Reduction Program Helps Customers Reduce Scrap by up to 50 Percent and Direct Costs by up to 12 Percent

SÃO PAULO, Brazil – November 9, 2004 – Responding to customer needs to minimize losses from waste during processing and manage discarded post-production material, Owens Corning (OTC: OWENQ) today announced at the FEIPLAR COMPOSITES 2004 show a comprehensive waste management program named SUGERE (Sistema Owens Corning de Gerencamento de Residuos), which can help customers reduce waste by up to 50 percent, and direct costs by up to 12 percent. The program saves money for producers of thermoset composite products and manages manufacturing leftovers by finding environmentally friendly alternative uses for them.

The innovative SUGERE scrap and waste reduction program works on two fronts:

• Process – Owens Corning technicians help customers optimize production processes and tooling specific to each manufacturer using roving to minimize waste during production prior to cure. Elements include operator training on spray-up procedures; adjustment to process parameters such as fiber-to-resin ratios; determination of the most effective gun-to-mold distances, pressures and spray angles in relation to the mold surface; optimization of fiber length, and simple tooling additions to prevent overspray or give hand workers an unmistakable target area for spray-up.

• Post-Process -- Owens Corning identifies and suggests recycling and disposal of post-process scrap and waste, reducing customer housekeeping and regulatory headaches. After collection, materials are recycled into secondary, environmentally friendly uses. Potential applications are plywood and chipboard panels, bulk for automotive insulation mats or asphalt paving material, and, after milling, as reinforcing for thermoplastics and auto body repair paste. In rare cases when materials do not lend themselves to recycling, Owens Corning can consult on civil engineering design for environmentally sound landfills.

The new Owens Corning program is initially being rolled out to a small circle of customers in Brazil with plans to expand coverage to other countries in Latin America. The SUGERE program is a free value-added service in addition to the technical assistance package offered to customers who use 100 percent OC products. However, in view of the company’s commitment to the importance of environmental sustainability, it will be offering the program to others at a competitive cost. Those interested can contact an Owens Corning representative for further information at 0.800.707.33.12 (toll free in Brazil) or at 55.19.3535.9314 (outside Brazil).

The SUGERE program grew from perspectives and insights Owens Corning technical personnel garner while working with customers on actual real-world problems. “Our product and service engineers go into many plants, problem-solving for a wide array of customer issues, and at the same time observing best practices,” said Sérgio Falcão, sales manager, and SUGERE program leader, Owens Corning Brazil. “In addition, these engineers are clearly in a position to know more than anyone else about Owens Corning product parameters and process recommendations. The new program marries these two knowledge bases to the benefit of both the environment and our customers which is at the core of our purpose – delivering solutions, transforming markets and enhancing lives.”

Seed ideas for the new program were developed in a company “Imagine One” session held at the Owens Corning Rio Claro site near São Paulo, Brazil. Participants included division, product, service and sales management leaders. “Imagine One” is a structured Owens Corning brainstorming process designed to solve a stated problem in ways beneficial to all involved.

Owens Corning Latin America is discussing the new Sugere program with interested customers here at FEIPLAR COMPOSITES 2004 at the Owens Corning booth B12-14, in Hall 1 – Street B at the ITM Expo.

Reader enquiries

Owens Corning Composite Solutions Business
Owens Corning World Headquarters
One Owens Corning Parkway
Toledo, Ohio 43659
United States
+1 419 248 5939
www.owenscorning.com

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Notes for editors

About Owens Corning

Owens Corning is a world leader in building materials systems and composite solutions. Founded in 1938, the company had sales of $5 billion in 2003. Additional information is available at the Owens Corning website: www.owenscorning.com.