New production line

RNS Number : 2245V

Compagnie de Saint-Gobain

29 November 2019

 

PRESS RELEASE

November 29, 2019

SAINT-GOBAIN INAUGURATES NEW BLOWING GLASS WOOL PRODUCTION LINE IN FRANCE FOR AN INVESTMENT OF €35M

Saint-Gobain has inaugurated its new blowing glass wool production line at its ISOVER plant in Chemillé, near Angers, France, to meet the growing demand of the insulation market. This line has an annual production capacity of 30,000 metric tons of blowing glass wool - enough to insulate the roofs of 100,000 homes a year - following an investment of €35 million. It will meet the French market's growing demand for thermal insulation solutions for roof cavities. This line demonstrates Saint-Gobain's active participation in the building energy renovation Program and the Group's commitment to combating climate change.

"We are proud of the extension of this site renowned for its exemplary environmental approach and which illustrates our commitment to sustainable development with, on the one hand, the aim of reducing the environmental impact of our activities - which involves improving the efficiency of our processes, optimizing the energy mix and preserving resources - and, on the other, the manufacture of solutions that help reduce buildings' energy consumption and carbon emissions," says Pierre-André de Chalendar, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Saint-Gobain. "The installation of these 30,000 metric tons of blowing glass wool produced in Chemillé enables 12.5 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions to be avoided over the product life span. While roofs are the biggest source of energy loss from homes, when insulated with blowing glass wool, the building's total energy bill is reduced by 30% on average - representing an annual increase of €500 in purchasing power for the households concerned*."

Installed in a new building of almost 4,500m², the new production line is 220m long and includes an electric furnace that uses more than 40% recycled glass to produce the blowing glass wool.

This new production line demonstrates Saint-Gobain's commitment to investment in French industry, as well as reinforcing the Group's geographic presence in order to supply western France more quickly with glass wool and to be closer to its customers.

* Source: CEE BAR-En-101 product sheet

The Chemillé plant - the latest of Saint-Gobain ISOVER's five plants (Orange, Chalon-sur-Saône, Genouillac and Mably - Isonat) in France - was opened in 2010 and now occupies a surface area of almost 41,500m². In total, it has a maximum annual production capacity of 100,000 metric tons and now employs 120 people. Certified ISO 14 001 (environmental management), ISO 50 001 (energy management) and ISO 9001 (customer satisfaction), the site is exemplary for its resource management:

·    100% of plant water is recycled; 20,000m³ of rainwater is recovered each year;

·   More than 40% recycled glass, from household and industrial waste sources and internally recycled cullet;

·    Product compression is 10 times greater than for standard glass wool and 15 times greater than for blowing glass wool when packaged, which helps reduce CO₂ emissions during transportation;

·    100% of pallets are recyclable;

·    The Chemillé plant's administrative buildings are heated by the site's furnaces.

ABOUT SAINT-GOBAIN

Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and solutions which are key ingredients in the wellbeing of each of us and the future of all. They can be found everywhere in our living places and our daily life: in buildings, transportation, infrastructure and in many industrial applications. They provide comfort, performance and safety while addressing the challenges of sustainable construction, resource efficiency and climate change.

€41.8 billion in sales in 2018

Operates in 68 countries

More than 180,000 employees

To learn more about Saint-Gobain

go to www.saint-gobain.com

and follow us on Twitter @saintgobain.

Analyst/Investor relations		Media relations
Vivien Dardel Floriana Michalowska Christelle Gannage	[phone]  [phone]  [phone]	Laurence Pernot Patricia Marie Susanne Trabitzsch	[phone]  [phone]  [phone]

 

 

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