Re Joint Venture

RNS Number:1631O
Compagnie de Saint-Gobain
30 July 2003


press release


      Saint-Gobain and Owens Corning to build joint Glass Reinforcement 
                              facility in Mexico

Saint-Gobain Reinforcement and Owens Corning announced today that they will
build a joint glass reinforcement facility in Xicohtencatl, Tlaxcala, Mexico,
adjacent to Saint-Gobain Vetrotex America's facility. This unit will manufacture
the highest quality products for the composites market. Construction work will
begin in early August.

This facility will produce roving products to be sold across a broad range of
end-user markets. "Locating this glass reinforcement facility in Mexico enables
us to most cost-effectively meet the needs of our customers in the Americas"
said Dick Lantz, President, Owens Corning Composite Solutions. Roberto Caliari,
President of the Reinforcement Branch of Saint-Gobain, confirmed : "this
facility will allow us to supply our customers with high quality glass
reinforcements on a cost-effective basis. We will get on the site the benefit of
our industrial experience and of a highly skilled workforce".

The roving products produced by this 50/50 joint venture will be sold in equal
shares through Saint-Gobain Vetrotex and Owens Corning international sales
networks. Production and delivery of product is planned for late 2004.

On a global scale, the composites market is growing at 5% annually.

The transactions have been approved by the appropriate legal and regulatory
agencies.

Saint-Gobain operates as a manufacturer and provider of high technology
materials and associated services. Saint-Gobain is one of the world's hundred
leading industrial corporations. The Group had worldwide sales of 30.3 billion Euro
in 2002.

Owens Corning is a world leader in building materials systems and composites
solutions. Founded in 1938, the company had sales of $4.9 billion in 2002.


July 30, 2003



                         Investor Relations Department



Mme Florence TRIOU-TEIXEIRA            Tel. :[phone] - 
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