BOBINGEN -- Johns Manville (JM), a leading manufacturer of premium-quality building and specialty products, opened a new polyester spunbond production line at the Johns Manville GmbH operation in Bobingen, Germany. Adoption of the latest technology allows the production line to achieve faster manufacturing and the production of denser and lighter carrier materials for roofing systems. In addition, the new production line requires less energy and resources and also reduces noise and exhaust gas pollution.
The new production line, which represents an investment of more than 30 million Eros, has a capacity in excess of 10.000 tons per year and is increasing spunbond capacity at the Bobingen site by more than 30 percent.
"Apart from the increased production capacity, the new production line allows for an expansion of our DuraSpun® product range by a new generation of differentiated polyester spunbond products with reduced area weight and optimized application properties," said Dr. Enno Henze, European business manager for Johns Manville's Construction Materials & Systems business. "As a result, we considerably strengthen the leadership position of JM as a provider of premium spunbond solutions to the European roofing systems marketplace."
"The new production line was implemented as a result of the increased demand for long-life roofing systems, especially in Central and Eastern Europe," added Zain Mahmood, vice president and general manager-Construction Materials & Systems. "We observed a rapid carrier conversion from low-end bitumen-coated ragfelt to long-life polyester spunbond-based roofing systems. Our technology enables polyester spunbond products with reduced weight that, at the same time, are more resistant to damage and provide superior moisture barrier and higher heat and fire resistance."
The new production line is based on unique technology developed by Johns Manville. Improved laydown systems for the extruded polyester fibers enable a more even structure of the fibers, resulting in reduced area weight and thinner spunbonds. Additionally, the use of highly concentrated binders - also an innovation - reduces water consumption and the subsequent cost for vaporization. Outlet air cleaning is also superior: Exhaust gases are burnt residue-free in ceramic ovens.
Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium-quality building and specialty products. In business since 1858, the Denver, USA-based Company has sales in excess of $2.5 billion and holds leadership positions in all of the key markets that it serves. Johns Manville employs approximately 8,500 people and operates 43 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia.
The Engineered Products Group (EPG), one of Johns Manville's four strategic business units, produces glass fibers, glass fiber nonwoven, polyester spunbond, meltblown and glass fiber wall coverings at 14 manufacturing locations worldwide: Spartanburg, SC, Waterville, OH, Richland, MS and Etowah, TN, USA; Berlin, Bobingen, Karlstein, Steinach and Wertheim, Germany; St. Helens, UK, Oskarstrom and Helsingborg, Sweden; Trnava, Slovakia and Shanghai, China.
