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Owens Corning Muffler Technology Specified by Toyota

21 September 1999

Owens Corning Muffler Technology Specified by Toyota

    TOLEDO, Ohio, Sept. 20 -- Owens Corning today
reported that its Silentex(TM) muffler filling system has been specified by
Toyota for five vehicles built in Japan, the first applications of the
technology in Asia.
    First introduced in Europe, Silentex muffler filling technology migrated
to North America on its way to being adopted by Toyota for use on the Celica
and Crown models, and the second versions of the company's new basic car,
which will carry the model names Vitz, Platz and FunCargo.
    Mufflers for Toyota using Owens Corning's Silentex muffler filling system
will be made in Japan by Sango Co. Ltd , and Futaba Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Silentex muffler technology is a totally integrated system using high-
temperature glass fiber insulating material, tailor-made muffler filling
machinery and a cost-effective filling process.  By working with customers
like Toyota, and parts suppliers Futaba and Sango, Owens Corning is meeting
market needs for improved efficiency, durability and acoustic performance.
    Filled muffler systems have been in production for many years using a
variety of materials including basalt wool or E glass needle felt preforms.
The use of filled mufflers has spread in this decade as vehicle manufacturers
faced the twin needs of reducing weight and fitting mufflers into smaller and
smaller spaces.
    More recently, environmental awareness and engine performance have changed
and some material systems have failed to meet newer, more-stringent OEM
demands.
    Working with automotive engineers, Owens Corning developed a system using
glass fiber material that withstands the heat and chemicals found in
automotive exhaust.  A proprietary filling system also offers systems costs
reductions.
    "The key to the durability of the Silentex system is that it consists of a
single, continuous Advantex(R) glass fiber roving," says Heinz Otto,
president, Composites Systems Business, Owens Corning.
    "The glass fiber system remains in place, even under the harshest
conditions, meeting manufacturers' extended warranty requirements. This has
been proven at Volvo, Daimler Chrysler and GM Opel."
    The filling material used in the Silentex noise control system is Owens
Corning's proprietary Advantex glass fiber.  Advantex glass fiber provides
unmatched combination of durability, acoustic absorbency and cost in muffler
and resonator applications.
    Otto says the glass fiber materials and the filling system used for the
Toyota models was tailored for their needs through the teamwork of Owens
Corning, Futaba, Sango and Toyota.
    Owens Corning expects that 75 percent of all vehicle exhaust systems will
use filled mufflers by the year 2005.
    Owens Corning is a world leader in building materials and glass fiber
composites systems.  The company had 1998 sales of $5 billion and employs
approximately 20,000 worldwide.  For more information, please visit Owens
Corning's Web site at http://www.owenscorning.com .