Nov 3 2010
USG Corporation (NYSE: USG), a leading building products company, announced today it has received a 2010 Chicago Innovation Award for its SHEETROCK® Brand UltraLight Panels.
SHEETROCK® UltraLight Panels are up to 30 percent lighter than the competition, and represent the most significant breakthrough in wallboard technology creating a new lightweight category of gypsum wallboard.
“Innovations such as USG’s original SHEETROCK Brand wallboard helped build homes and buildings more efficiently during the last 108 years. Now, SHEETROCK® UltraLight Panels are redefining the building materials market,” James Metcalf, president and chief operating officer, USG Corporation. “Innovating is a core value at USG and an expectation of our loyal customers. We are honored to receive this award and proud to be a top Chicago and worldwide innovator.”
SHEETROCK UltraLight Panels
The 2010 Chicago Innovation Award is the third award for USG. The company won in 2006 for its SHEETROCK® Brand Lightweight All-Purpose Joint Compound with Dust Control, and in 2005 for DUROCK® tile membrane.
A panel of expert judges selected the top 10 winning innovations from 10 Chicago area companies that best represented the results of a sustained commitment to innovation. The awards were announced at a ceremony at the Goodman Theatre on Nov. 1, 2010.
The lightweight panels combine proprietary formulations and processes with patented technologies invented at USG’s Corporate Innovation Center, located in Libertyville, Ill. The panels are up to 15 to 24 pounds lighter per panel than the competition, depending on length, and feature a significantly higher strength-to-weight ratio with improved sag resistance.
SHEETROCK® UltraLight Panels are ideal for use on ceilings with up to 24-inch, on-center framing and water-based texture, presenting potential cost-savings when used as a replacement for 5/8-inch type X board used on ceilings or 1/2-inch interior ceiling board. The lightweight panels meet International Building Code, International Residential Code and ASTM C1396 Specification for Gypsum Board, for both 1/2-inch gypsum wallboard and 1/2-inch gypsum ceiling board.
USG’s SHEETROCK® UltraLight Panels are the first and only product to earn Gold Sustainability Certification under UL Environment, Inc.’s (ULE) Interim Sustainability Requirements Number 100 (ISR 100), a new industry-wide sustainability requirement for gypsum wallboard. ULE ISR 100 identifies gypsum wallboard and panels that are environmentally preferable to those within the marketplace. Gold Level Certification indicates superior environmental and human health attributes against the requirements.
In addition, SHEETROCK® UltraLight Panels are the first wallboard product to undergo ULE Validation. The lightweight gypsum panels are made with up to 95 percent recycled content, offer up to a 20 percent reduction in transportation energy, conserve raw materials by up to 15 percent, and qualify as a low volatile organic compound (VOC) emitting material.
SHEETROCK® UltraLight Panels help reduce fatigue with its lighter weight, easier and faster installation, and cleaner score and snap—ultimately helping contractors meet project demands. Dealers also benefit from the light weight with reduced employee fatigue, less wear and tear on equipment and the ability to place more product per truck, while realizing an increased operational efficiency and potential energy savings.
SHEETROCK® UltraLight Panels are available in standard lengths, including 8-, 10-, 12-, 14- and 16-foot panels in 48- and 54-inch widths. The panels are available at more than 300 retail and specialty dealer locations throughout the Northeast and Southeast regions
Source: http://www.opusroofblanket.com/