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  Owens Corning

Glass fiber has been a key component of the automotive industry since 1953. That's when General Motors assigned Owens Corning the task of developing a process to manufacture glass fiber composites body panels for the Corvette, Chevrolet's new sports car.

Today, glass fiber composites are replacing interior and exterior metal components -- such as body panels, bumper beams, valve covers, mufflers, and ignition cables -- in cars manufactured both in Europe and North America.

For example, the radiator support for the Taurus/Sable platform provides an estimated 14% cost savings and a 22% weight savings per vehicle for the front end subsystem. Compared to conventional assembly, the modular design eliminates the need for 53 parts and 27 separate fasteners.

The European auto industry, traditionally focused on composite structural parts, is increasing its attention on U.S. composites technology for exterior body panels. One application is in the hood of the Alpha Romeo Spider. The increasing use of structural composite parts inside and outside the vehicle will continue to provide opportunities for growth on both sides of the Atlantic.

In transportation, glass fiber composites go beyond automakers. They provide strength and corrosion resistance in rapid transit and monorail cars. They're in shipping containers, commercial cargo carriers, even stop signs and highway markers.

In short, with their tough, new corrosion-resistance and durability, Owens Corning glass fiber in composites go the distance in transportation.

Transportation || Telecommunications & Computers || Recreation
Military/Protection || Aerospace || Infrastructure