Johns Manville (JM), a global materials manufacturer and Berkshire Hathaway Co., this week announced a significant upgrade to its nonwoven glass mat production plant in Waterville, Ohio. Beginning in late 2015, JM will upgrade an existing nonwoven mat line with advanced manufacturing technology that will allow the company to better serve customers in growing segments of the global specialty glass mat market. JM anticipates the upgraded production line will be fully operational in early 2016. 

JM is the largest producer of specialty glass mat in North America and is an internationally recognized technology and quality leader. The company’s glass nonwoven products are used in a wide range of residential and commercial buildings as well as specialty industrial applications, including roofing shingles, carpet tile, vinyl flooring, office panels, ceiling tile, duct liner, exterior sheathing, and energy storage. 

In addition to providing strength and reinforcement, JM’s customers use specialty glass mat to support surface aesthetics, acoustical performance, mold and mildew resistance, and sustainability performance of end-use products.

"This investment positions JM for business in new and evolving markets," said Enno Henze, SVP & GM for JM Engineered Products. "For example, in the energy storage space, fuel economy standards are driving new battery technologies.  Additionally, as a leading supplier of glass mat nonwovens to the European vinyl flooring industry, this upgrade allows us to support the domestic growth of vinyl flooring companies as they continue to ‘on-shore’ their manufacturing to the U.S." 

Tanya Bradby, portfolio leader, Nonwovens America, added tha6t "our upgraded Waterville plant will enable JM to provide global product capability between Europe and the Americas and to deliver global product consistency with regional availability. JM has a 157-year history of building science and product innovation, and this investment represents our latest commitment to the future of the industries we serve." 

Last year, JM announced the merger of its Engineered Products divisions in America, Europe and Asia into one global business unit. The company’s investment in its Waterville manufacturing plant supports this reorganization and bolsters the company’s global manufacturing footprint. In addition to its Waterville plant, JM operates Engineered Products production facilities in China, Germany, Slovakia, and in other areas of the U.S.