Johns Manville Invests in TPO Roofing

In response to the rapidly growing thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) roofing membrane market, the building products manufacturing giant Johns Manville is investing $30 million in a new TPO manufacturing facility in Scottsboro, Alabama. The plant will begin producing membranes for commercial and industrial applications in mid-2008, helping to accommodate the compounded 15% annual increase in demand that the industry projects. A non-chlorinated alternative to PVC membranes, TPO obtains flexibility through copolymers rather than plasticizers, and can be heat-welded to minimize the use of solvent-based adhesives. Although Johns Manville has been marketing and selling TPO products under its own brand for several years (along with just about every other type of roofing membrane), this is the first company-held TPO facility. Additional information can be found at www.jm.com.