GLW Corning Inc

Stronger, Better Sealed Windows and Doors Manufactured More Efficiently with Dow Corning Technology MIDLAND, Mich., June 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As residential and commercial construction reaches record levels in many parts of the world, window and door manufacturers of all sizes are turning to new glazing technology to keep pace with demand. Chemists at Dow Corning Corporation have developed a sealant that allows fabricators to manufacture stronger and better-sealed silicone-glazed windows and doors. In addition to improving the seal and strength of the windows, the technology reduces the time and cost associated with window and door manufacturing by as much as 33 percent. "This sealant technology advances window assembly and quality to a new level," said Don McLane, president of the adhesive systems group at Nordson Corp., a pump manufacturer. "The ability to increase production speed while producing better products is a technology sought by all manufacturing processes." Glazing in the window and door manufacturing process is usually accomplished with adhesive tape or liquid sealants. Each has drawbacks: Glazing tape requires no expensive equipment and allows the sash to be processed immediately, but consistency and quality of application can be an issue and rework is time-consuming. Liquid sealants provide superior performance but they often squeeze out when glass is pressed into the frame, and requiring an additional clean-up step. More importantly, the windows must be set aside after glazing to allow the bedding material to cure, taking time and space. Dow Corning(R) InstantGlaze Window Assembly Sealant combines the best features of both techniques. InstantGlaze provides as much adhesive strength as tape, so windows can be finished and shipped. The window can be glazed up to 15 minutes after the InstantGlaze has been applied. High viscosity at room temperature virtually eliminates squeeze-out. The sealant then cures to its full strength. "Production times are improved dramatically and warehousing space and associated costs are saved," said David Koester, brand manager, Weather Shield Windows & Doors. "Most medium-sized and larger manufacturers now using tape have found the equipment investment pays for itself in an average of nine months through lower labor costs and increased productivity," said Doug Houtman, North America market manager for the Insulated Glass/Window & Door segment of the Construction Industry, Dow Corning. Dow Corning (http://www.dowcorning.com/ ) provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global leader in silicon-based technology and innovation, offering more than 7,000 products and services, Dow Corning is equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW) and Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW). More than half of Dow Corning's sales are outside the United States. DATASOURCE: Dow Corning Corporation CONTACT: Jarrod Erpelding of Dow Corning Corp., +1-989-948-4693 Web site: http://www.dowcorning.com/

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