Press release February 2008
Raimund HEINL : new Director of the Saint-Gobain Textile Solutions Activity
Raimund HEINL, 48 years of age, is the new worldwide director of Saint-Gobain's Textile Solutions activity. This division of the French group manufactures and markets glass fabrics and veils for industry and construction. Raimund HEINL will take over from Arnaud GENIS, who became director of OCV's European activities in November 2007, with the sale of the Saint-Gobain Reinforcement & Composites activity to the American group Owens Corning (OC). Raimund HEINL joined the Saint-Gobain group in 1986, where he reached the highest-level in commercial and marketing positions for the Vetrotex® division, both in Germany and in France. Previously a product manager, a sales and an international marketing manager, in 2004 he became the General Director of Vetrotex®, and in 2007 was offered the post of Director of the Textile Solutions activity. Under the leadership of its' new Director, Textile Solutions is re-centering its' strategy around two major avenues: production of glass fibers for textiles under the Vetrotex® brand, and the upstream activity of integrated weaving under the name Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics, which includes fabrics, veils and glass mesh. Vetrotex® has three production sites worldwide. It has one factory in Mexico, mainly serving the American market; locations in the Czech Republic; and a factory in Germany for specialty products. By relying on these modern, optimized factories, Textile Solutions' objective is to develop high-end, competitive, innovative products, in cooperation with its' clients, thus setting itself apart from an increasingly Asia-centered competition on commodity products. Raimund HEINL hopes to develop the Saint-Gobain Vetrotex and Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics activities locally, in order to be able to offer products that perfectly match the specific characteristics of regional markets, as well as to take advantage of the global presence of both activities to develop technology synergies. A brand strategy will enable the company to differentiate Saint-Gobain Textile Solutions products from standard products on the market. Saint-Gobain Textile Solutions is a world leader in both of its activities, upstream and downstream production, with around 20% in market share. The company has 3000 associates, 16 production sites throughout the world, and currently represents turnover of EUR 465 million.
More information available upon request from: Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics Europe
517 avenue de la Boisse F-73025 Chambéry Cedex - France Tel.: +33 (0)4 79 68 32 39 Fax: +33 (0)4 79 68 32 40 E-mail: marlene.fusier@saint-gobain.com Web sites for more information: www.sgtf.eu (SGTF activity) www.vetrotextextiles.com (Vetrotex® activity)
Agence Schilling Communication
2 place Cap Ouest - BP 169 F-17005 La Rochelle Cedex 1 - France Tel. +33 (0)5 46 50 15 15 - Fax +33 (0)5 46 50 15 19 E-mail: agence.schilling@n-schilling.com Web site: www.n-schilling.com
