News Release
For immediate release:
December 4, 2008
For more information contact:
Michael B. Loughery, CertainTeed
(610) 341-7328
mike.b.loughery@saint-gobain.com
www.certainteed.com/pressroom
CertainTeed Siding Plant Upcycles its Manufacturing Waste into Protective Corners
(Valley Forge, Pa.) – The development team at CertainTeed Corporation’s McPherson, Kan.,
polymer shake siding manufacturing facility is thinking outside of the box with the development
of the Cobra Corner Guard, a product that takes regrind waste from the manufacturing process
and “upcycles” or repurposes it into corner guards that protect pallets of packaged product during
shipment.
“The idea was born out of a desire to save the plant money and to recycle the regrind that results
from production color changes during the manufacture of our Cedar Impressions® polymer shake
siding,” says Austin Butcher, Project Engineer for the McPherson Plant. “Regrind can’t be used
for manufacturing new siding and it was quickly accumulating. So, our team came up with this
truly unique solution – the Cobra Corner Guard which protects the edges of corrugated siding
cartons.”
“I feel the McPherson Plant has overall done a great job of keeping environmentally friendly
activities top-of-mind,” says Tad Radzinski, Founder and President of Sustainable Solutions
Corporation and an industry expert in sustainability. Radzinski helps companies develop
innovative and practical solutions that reduce environmental impact, improve efficiency and save
money. “I have had the opportunity to visit many plants and facilities and the McPherson Plant
has gone above and beyond to establish a comprehensive recycling program. The new Cobra
Corner Guard product is a fine example of this.”
Cobra Corner Guard –Page 2 of 2
News Release
Cobra Corner Guard, which went into production this summer, features two injection-molded inribs that act as a strap guide to ensure the banding materials don’t slide off. Further
distinguishing the design are the “fangs” that attach or “bite” into the carton and hold it in place.
Cobra Corner Guards also are now in use at CertainTeed Siding Plants in Hagerstown, Md., and
Jackson, Mich.
“The purpose of this project was to offer our sister plants a better functioning corner guard,
reduce costs and manufacturing waste from our facility through the use of sustainable tactics,”
adds Butcher. “I am happy to report that we accomplished all three goals.”
About CertainTeed
Through innovation and creative product design, CertainTeed has helped shape the building
products industry for more than 100 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Company, the
firm made its slogan "Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed," which quickly inspired
the name CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed® is North America’s leading brand of exterior and
interior building products, including roofing, siding, windows, fence, decking, railing, trim,
foundations, pipe, insulation, gypsum, ceilings and access covers.
Headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa., CertainTeed and its affiliates have more than 7,000
employees and more than 70 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada.
In 2007 the group had total sales of more than $3 billion. www.certainteed.com.
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