ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, January 30, 1996              TAG: 9601300072
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: B-6  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS 

WINDOW FILM MAKER TO EXPAND INCREASED CAPACITY SHOULD ADD 50 JOBS

A Martinsville maker of solar-control window films plans to invest $20 million to increase its manufacturing capacity by 50 percent.

Courtaulds Performance Films said about a third of the investment, $6 million, will be used for new coating and laminating facilities to be housed in a clean room by late this year.

The company also plans to expand its clean-room facilities, add machinery and upgrade its existing coating and laminating equipment.

Cindy Jefferson, a Courtaulds spokeswoman, said the expansion should add about 50 jobs at the plant through the course of the year. The company employs 450 people.

President Ken Vickers said the investment marks Courtaulds' determination to remain the U.S. leader in solar-control window and enhanced films for high technology and industrial applications.

Solar-control window film is installed over the interior glass in buildings to help reduce fading of furnishings and artifacts and to help save energy by reducing heat loss and gain through windows.

Courtaulds specializes in dyed, coated, laminated and metalized films for solar control on buildings and automobiles. It also makes films for electronics, reprographics, graphics, industrial design, display, imaging, information storage and aerospace.

The company is a part of Courtaulds plc of London, which operates in 39 countries.

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