Johns Manville introduces improved roving SMC Aplus:

Bad Homburg (April 9, 2002) --- Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company, introduced a new product during the JEC trade conference in Paris. This new product, SMC Roving Aplus, was produced utilizing a manufacturing breakthrough developed with the close co-operation of leading European SMC molders, and is used in automotive exterior body panels that require a Class A surface finish, such as decklids, tailgates, truck body panels and spoiler systems.

"Aplus rovings provide new application opportunities in an area where Johns Manville already holds the European market leader position," said Michael Effing, Business Director-Nonwovens and Reinforcements. "We started by understanding our customers' challenges, then developed a cost-effective solution to help them meet those challenges and grow their business."

SMC Aplus rovings can be used for a broad range of resin and reinforcement combinations that enhance specific properties. The fiber diameter is 15 micron with 2400 tex to 4800 tex. SMC Aplus rovings will be used to replace metal body panels in certain vehicles. The first commercialization will be the tailgate of the new Renault Laguna station wagon.

SMC Aplus is only one of the lastest innovations , we are also introducing at the JEC show new direct rovings DR LFTplus for the Long Fiber Technologies as well as a new generation of chopped strands CS Thermoflow. Both products will be used in automotive, consumer and electrical applications.

Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium-quality building and specialty products. In business since 1858, the Denver-based company has sales in excess of $2 billion and holds leadership positions in all of the key markets that it serves. Johns Manville employs approximately 9,500 people and operates 52 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. Johns Manville Europe is the European operations for one of Johns Manville's three strategic business units, and has 11 manufacturing locations in Germany, Sweden, the U.K., Poland, Slovakia and China. Additional information can be found at www.jm.com.