Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics-Construction: expertise in glass and a targeted range for building

SAINT-GOBAIN ADFORS
Tissus et toiles de verre pour le bâtiment

517, avenue de la Boisse - F - 73025 Chambery Cedex france
Tel : 04 79 68 32 18 - Fax : 04 79 68 32 40
e-mail : marlene.fusier@saint-gobain.com
Site web : http://www.adfors.com

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Mardi 1 Mars 2005

Rot-proof and resistant to fire, water and ageing: the high technical and mechanical performances of glass fibres find multiple applications in building. On the strength of undisputed expertise in glass, the Saint-Gobain group has succeeded in developing a range specifically intended for this industry, grouped within its Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics - Construction unit. Ahead of market changes, Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics - Construction proposes a targeted range of fabrics and mats produced by processing glass fibres for indoor and outdoor applications, for industry (membranes for waterproofing roofs, reinforcement of panels in cement or plaster, strengthening of cement coatings, etc.) and for the general public. Indirectly or via its own brands, Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics-Construction markets finished and ready-for-use products such as wall coverings (Tapety), joint tape (Fibatape) or screens (Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics). A comprehensive and diversified range with innovation, synergy and expertise as recurring themes.

Glass industry capability based on a long tradition

Benefiting from cutting-edge technologies, the construction division of Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics (with turnover of 350 million euros in 2004) nowadays numbers 1,100 employees in 10 countries, Headed by André Paes Leme Canguçu, this division, set up in 2003, groups together several companies - Saint-Gobain Vertex in the Czech republic (glass fabrics), Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics in Canada, the USA, Mexico, Great Britain and China, and Saint-Gobain Velimat Polska in Poland.

Saint-Gobain: the power of extensive experience

Founded in 1665 by Colbert, Manufacture de Saint-Gobain since its creation has proved its skills by building the "hall of mirrors" at the Château of Versailles, and also by organising the production of glass on an industrial basis. Today a group of international scope, Saint-Gobain has a presence in 46 countries across the world and employs more than 172,000 people, with a turnover of 30 billion euros. Having become world leader in the areas of flat glass, insulation, abrasives or the distribution of building materials, the group has been able to capitalise on its history and its capabilities to build itself around three core businesses - glass, habitat and high-performance materials.

The know-how of the group spans many production areas, from the manufacture of continuous filament yarns to their processing into technical glass fabrics for numerous applications. A unit of the reinforcement department of the HPM (High Performance Materials) division, Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics is divided into three areas (industry, composites and building), specialised in the manufacture and sale of fabrics, glass mats and reinforcement grids (mainly in glass but also in polyester, aramid fibre and carbon) for building, technical composites and industrial products. Very active in a fast-developing sector, Saint Gobain Technical Fabrics records annual growth of 20% in sales (the 2004 turnover was 600 million euros) on a world market with annual growth of 12% and a 25% share of the world market.

The strength of an international group closer to user needs

Aiming, according to the Group's mission, to foster steady growth on solid bases after developing synergies among its various component companies, the construction division of Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics is strengthening its world presence and is now projected in every continent. After Europe and North America, it has expanded to Asia, South America and Eastern Europe. Located worldwide, Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics has a specific commercial organisation for each continent. Thus in Europe the three construction, composites and industry divisions each have their own commercial organisation, while in Asia they are grouped together yet with teams assigned to each country (China, Japan, Korea, India, etc.)

True to the group's motto of "by your side, worldwide", this very strong local presence of Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics allows close links to be created with end users, offering them products which meet their most specific needs perfectly.

Research & development - at the heart of customer relations

Like the Saint-Gobain Group, which allocates 300 million euros, a year to R&D, the driving power and expansion of the construction division of Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics is based on a facility dedicated to developing effective and innovative new solutions. This department is organised around specific projects with dedicated teams in all plants of the group and a marketing team close to the R&D unit. With much-appreciated technological support, it works with industrial clients who are often world leaders in their area - a synergy of unquestionable efficacy.

A world of solutions at the service of industry and individuals

Industrial applications or areas dedicated to the general public, the construction division of Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics produces and sells mats, fabrics and reinforcement grids for strengthening materials intended for the building industry. The result of unique and sophisticated production techniques (weaving, knitting, needling, hot-bonding, looping, calendering, etc.) and based on glass yarns and fibres, this range provides the ideal solution with products for outdoor and indoor use.

* Glass fabrics, grids or wovens formed by a mesh of yarns according to techniques ranging from the classic "warp and weft" to highly technical systems such as knitted and leno fabrics and bonded laid grids. Fine to a varying degree, resistant to tearing and high temperatures, rot-proof, resistant to UV rays and to water, they are available in many solutions, notably for the reinforcement of wall panels, floor stabilisation and also products for the general public such as insect screens, jointing tape (dry wall tape) or glass fibre decorative wall coverings.

- Decorative wall coverings: with an attractive design, durable, practical and strong, these are wall coverings intended for painting. Their strength makes them suitable both for public and services areas and for private homes (marketed by Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics under the Tapety brand name).

- The wall jointing tapes in glass fibres, clean and strong, these are essential for creating flawless joints in plasterboard panels, ensuring both considerable savings in time on sites and unbeatable finishing quality (marketed for Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics under the Fibatape and Jointguard brand names).

- The fly/insect screens (woven screens whose mesh ensures protection against insects), they are available in rolls or on a backing, ready to install, for windows and doors, and sold by manufacturers of screens or in large do-it-yourself stores.

- Fabrics for reinforcing coatings of walls in systems of insulation from the outside ensure increased impact strength and a considerable increase in their durability. They are also used for strengthening self-levelling coatings for finishing floors.

- The grids for reinforcing slabs and tiles of marble or granite enable the use of more fragile stones or finer thicknesses. Grids are also available for sustaining small tiles such as enamels or mosaics.

- Used for reinforcing plaster and cement panels, glass fabrics and mats contribute their high resistance to ageing and impact, and their rot-proofing qualities to increase the durability of the panels. Their exceptional behaviour with water also qualifies them for use in very exposed humid areas.

* Glass mats, nonwoven materials based on glass fibres assembled in an even configuration by binders, are used in building (particularly for waterproofing roofs), electronics, the car-making industry, etc. Their outstanding dimensional stability, resistance to chemical attack and to fire, tensile strength, flexibility and easy impregnation, guarantee them high mechanical properties and enable their use not only for reinforcing but also for surfacing, separating, protecting and maintaining.

- Membranes for waterproofing roofs: standard (bituminous) or reinforced, and very stable, they have outstanding resistance properties (fire, water, UV, ageing, etc.).

- The asphalt shingle offers perfect waterproofing for roofs. Their fire, fungus and UV resistance has ensured their success, particularly in North America.

- The acoustic mats for floors (thick bitumen-coated mats), placed on the flat coating or surface before laying the covering, form an effect acoustic insulation barrier of floors in buildings thanks to their high technical properties.

- The ideal material for refurbishing ceilings, decorative coverings for subsequent painting ensure a perfect finish. Their controlled porousness and flatness make them the ideal surfacing for acoustic ceilings and panels.

- Glass mat faces for insulating foam for roofing (polyurethane and polyisocyanurates) ensure maximum dimensional stability, increasing fire resistance and the mechanical properties of the insulants.

- Aimed more particularly at companies in the glass wool industry, mats for glass wool surfacing reinforce the glass wool while preserving its thermal and acoustic insulation and fire resistance properties. With guaranteed handling comfort, they can be printed with a corporate logo for visual identification of the product.

Glass mats are also used in the manufacture of floor coverings (carpet and vinyl flooring) to which they contribute dimensional stability.

A united division for glass mats

In October 2003 the glass mat division of the group merged with the construction department of Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics. The strong marketing, commercial and technical synergy created on a world level allows an overall supply of products and services for numerous applications.
The glass mat division numbers 5 plants in Europe and 8 different production lines for producing mats 1.30 m to 4.20 m wide, as well as 2 plants in North America.

Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics

Division of the Saint-Gobain group, Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics-Construction (turnover of 350 million euros, 1,100 employees) specialises in the production and sale of glass mats and fabrics for the building industry. It distributes products for industry (waterproofing membranes, surfacing mats, etc.) and for the general public (shingle, joint tape, decorative wall and ceiling coverings, etc.).

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