IKO to Break New Ground in the Southeast US

Leading North American manufacturer of roofing materials to build a brand new facility and expand into a new market

KANKAKEE, IL, March 24 /CNW/ - IKO, a North American pioneer in the residential and commercial roofing business, has announced plans to build a state-of-the-art, high-performance shingle plant in Sylacauga, Alabama, with completion slated for fourth quarter 2011.

According to Keith Lowe, Vice President - Sales, US, the Sylacauga plant represents a substantial investment of capital and expertise. "Sylacauga is IKO's first real entry into the Southeast market. Our long-term strategic plan calls for continued expansion in order to be a true national supplier in the United States. The southeast represents one of the few remaining regions into which we can expand our operations in order to reach that goal. This flagship facility will spearhead our ambitious, yet attainable, goal of breaking into this new market. Sylacauga will be the combined product of our most up-to-date technology, manufacturing processes and pioneering research and development - the culmination of everything we've learned from all our existing operations. By allowing us to be ever more responsive to the needs of our growing customer base, we'll maximize the return of our investment in Sylacauga."

The Sylacauga facility will be a state-of-the-art 4-wide laminator. Like other IKO facilities, Sylacauga will have the capability to produce both architectural laminate and 3-tab shingles.

IKO's new plant will be fully supported by the company's existing Research and Quality Control facilities, as well as by its central marketing group.

Andy Lodge, Manager of the Research and Quality Control facility says, "The opening of every new plant is a synergistic learning experience. While Sylacauga will build on the strengths of all our other facilities, those plants will also benefit directly from the new equipment and innovative processes we will pioneer at Sylacauga."

Although the Sylacauga plant will be largely automated, IKO anticipates the creation of fifty new jobs, with more positions being added as the plant expands its capabilities in future.

For over half a century, IKO has been breaking new ground in the roofing industry and "setting the standard". Sylacauga is a proud symbol of IKO's on-going commitment to serve the needs of its growing markets.

About IKO

Established over 50 years ago, IKO remains a family-run business, engaged in the manufacture and sale of asphalt roofing materials. It is a vertically integrated roofing company, producing many of the raw materials used in manufacturing its shingles, such as mineral stabilizer, roofing granules, fiberglass strands, and fiberglass mat. Most key components are manufactured within IKO's family of companies, under its own stringent quality assurance. This provides superior quality assurance over all its finished products. The IKO family of companies has over 25 manufacturing plants throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

Copyright 2010 IKO. All rights reserved.

For further information: For media or industry analyst support, please visit our website at http://www.iko.com; Contact: Derek Fee, Manager of Corporate Communication, IKO, 235 W. South Tec Drive, Kankakee, IL, 60901, Ph: [phone], Email: [email protected]