25.09.2013
CORNING, N.Y. — Corning Incorporated this week celebrated the 40-year anniversary of its automotive ceramic substrate business and the construction of the business’ manufacturing facility in nearby Erwin, N.Y.
Corning joined the campaign for cleaner air in the early 1970s with the invention of an economical cellular-ceramic substrate used in catalytic converters of automobiles, buses, and trucks. When coated with a catalyst, the ceramic substrate converts noxious exhaust gases into harmless gases and water.
In 1973, Corning built its automotive plant -- now known as Erwin Manufacturing -- to produce these ceramic substrates. Today they are a standard in the industry and found in the majority of the world’s automotive catalytic converters.
“Our substrates have helped capture billons of tons of air pollutants over the past 40 years. As a result, millions of people worldwide breathe cleaner air,” said Hal Nelson, division vice president and business director, Corning Environmental Technologies. “Employees at Erwin Manufacturing, and throughout our Environmental Technologies division, should be proud of their role in developing a business that helps improve the health of our communities.”
Corning has produced more than 1.5 billion light-duty substrates to help control mobile emissions globally since the first shipment from Erwin.
“Since that time, the facility has evolved to become our most versatile asset,” said Mills Kenan, vice president and manufacturing manager, Corning Environmental Technologies. “In addition to diesel filters, the plant supports next-generation technologies now in development that will help the emissions regulations of tomorrow achieve broader and higher clean-air goals.”
During the past 40 years, Corning has continually developed its cellular-ceramic technology. Today, the company holds more than 600 patents for emission-control products and processes that are used in gasoline, diesel, and alternative-fuel vehicles, as well as stationary applications.
In addition to the Erwin Manufacturing plant, the company also produces cellular-ceramic products at its Erwin Diesel facility and at plants in Blacksburg, Va.; Kaiserslautern, Germany; Port Elizabeth, South Africa; and Shanghai, China. Earlier this year, the company announced an investment of approximately $250 million to increase manufacturing capacity for its diesel emissions-control products. The majority of the investment will increase capacity at Erwin Diesel, which manufactures large ceramic substrates and filters for heavy-duty diesel engine, truck, construction, and agricultural equipment manufacturers worldwide.
Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which are based on current expectations and assumptions about Corning’s financial results and business operations, that involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include: the effect of global political, economic and business conditions; conditions in the financial and credit markets; currency fluctuations; tax rates; product demand and industry capacity; competition; reliance on a concentrated customer base; manufacturing efficiencies; cost reductions; availability of critical components and materials; new product commercialization; pricing fluctuations and changes in the mix of sales between premium and non-premium products; new plant start-up or restructuring costs; possible disruption in commercial activities due to terrorist activity, armed conflict, political or financial instability, natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, or major health concerns; adequacy of insurance; equity company activities; acquisition and divestiture activities; the level of excess or obsolete inventory; the rate of technology change; the ability to enforce patents; product and components performance issues; retention of key personnel; stock price fluctuations; and adverse litigation or regulatory developments. These and other risk factors are detailed in Corning’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the day that they are made, and Corning undertakes no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events.
Source: Corning Incorporated/corning.com