In August 2021, Owens Corning launched PINK Next Gen™ Fiberglas™ insulation, an advanced fiber technology insulation designed to provide truly differentiated advantages for the building industry. PINK Next Gen™ Fiberglas™ insulation showcases new fiber technology that provide a range of benefits resulting in a 23% faster installation on average¹, compared to the company’s existing products.
This advanced batting features superior bounce back, reducing the time needed for the product to resume its original volume after removing it from air-sealed, compression packaging. PINK Next Gen™ Fiberglas™ also proves easier to work with, producing less dust, making it subsequently quicker to install.
Field-Tested With Real Contractors
Andy Musso, Senior Area Sales Manager/Sales Lead at Owens Corning, reports that this innovation went through rigorous testing for the improvements made a real difference on the job site. “It starts with the voice of the customer. What do they tell us they want? How do we make the product better? Next, Owens Corning did a series of actual field tests,” Musso explains, “in which contractors did actual installs, and we made comparisons between other Owen Corning products with the new PINK Next Gen™ Fiberglas™ product.” These field tests helped the Owens Corning team determine that the “Next Gen” improvements were translating into real-time savings in installation and overall improvements for our customers.
Working with contractors is standard procedure for Owens Corning. “A lot of our innovation comes from the extensive number of visits we make to contractors and distributors,” Musso adds. “We spend a lot of time talking to builders about pain points. We ask what would make their job easier. There are a lot of conversations that move from the field to marketing and sales. We listen to what customers are saying, including actual customer interviews.”
The Power of Bounce Back
Even seemingly minor details can make a big difference. Musso emphasizes, “One of PINK Next Gen’s™ advantages is the way it comes out of the bag. If you’ve ever seen a fiberglass batt taken out of a package, when you cut the package, you’ll see it expands and grows as it leaves its compression packaging.
“The new PINK Next Gen™ recovers very quickly,” he notes. “You open it up, and it just kind of pops up out of the bag. That means that it quickly fills the cavity without any sort of manipulation or fluffing. Contractors can get right to work putting it in the cavity. It glides in easily and stays placed.”
Musso elaborates, “The advanced fiber technology allows for a significantly faster installation. The batts also have fewer clumps and chunks for fast, clean cutting and splitting.”
Continual Improvements
Owens Corning has been at the leading edge of fiberglass innovation since the beginning. Fiberglass was developed back in the 1930s when a failed experiment with glass building blocks uncovered the possibilities of using glass fibers in commercial applications. Since then, fiberglass has been used in everything from reinforced 1954 Chevrolet Corvettes to the Apollo spacesuits.
Over time, Owens Corning has continually improved recovery, reduced associated dust, improved safety, and enhanced convenience. Musso explains, “Dust is a great example. Over time, Owens Corning has been able to make our processes cleaner and cleaner so that now contractors are pulling out a nice product that’s not going to emit a lot of dust.”
Innovations are also key. The PINK Next Gen™ product is sustainable made with 100% wind-powered electricity. It sets a new industry standard for recycled content: PINK Next Gen™ Fiberglas™ saves 12 times the energy required to make it in the first year of use. It has also earned Underwriter Laboratories GREENGUARD certification for low volatile organic compounds.
Differentiated Packaging
New product introductions give marketers a chance to rethink packaging. “We’ve refined the graphics on the package to provide more distinct differentiation.” Musso notes, “After all, we have hundreds of SKUs, and that can become a little confusing in the warehouse. We’ve been able to implement refinements that help our customers easily delineate between a commercial and residential product. We’ve done some different things with the way we’ve incorporated the graphics, the colors, and color-coding. It’s a notable improvement in terms of how we’re able to present the product.”
A Strong Metro Interior Distributors Partnership
Metro Interior Distributors has been working with Owens Corning in the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut markets since 2009. Metro respects the Owens Corning name, and the feeling seems to be mutual. “We’ve had a very strong partnership with Metro Interior Distributors,” Musso says. “They’ve been a key strategic partner in the metro New York market since 2009. I’m on the phone with somebody from Metro every day, solving a problem, working on an order, or working through customer specs. Metro is really just a great group of people to work with.”
Metro President Matt Sutherland is appreciative of the strong relationship he has with Owens Corning. “This company is already really good, but it’s also continually improving. Just when I think they can’t upgrade a product, they make it better.” He adds, “They are a very important partner for us, and we enjoy working with Andy Musso and all of the Owens Corning team.”
Want More Information About Owens Corning Next Gen Fiberglas?
If you want to learn more about any Owens Corning product, get a quote, or explore options for your next project, contact Metro Interior Distributors today. We’re here to help.
1. Based on time savings per batt compared to Owens Corning EcoTouch® Does not include supporting tasks required for insulation install. (Installation time trials conducted by Owens Corning with independent installers, July 2020.)
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