Owens Corning, USA
Set up in 1938, Owens Corning is the company that invented glass fibre. Today it is the world leader in advanced glass and building material systems. Based in Toledo, USA, it has operations in more than 30 countries and 27 glass fibre manufacturing plants worldwide. The company's dedicated automotive solutions group based in Detroit, USA, works with global original equipment manufacturers in the automotive industry to develop new applications of its products.

It provides unique structural and acoustic composite solutions to meet the automotive industry's demands in pollution control, weight reduction, cost reduction and improved structural performance.

Its key products for the automotive sector are:

	The Silentex™ noise control system: a totally integrated system using high temperature glass fibre roving, tailor-made muffler-filling machinery and a cost-effective filling process
	StaMax® P long fibre thermoplastic composites: a new material system designed for innovative semi-structural solutions

TACO and Owens Corning joined hands to set up Automotive Composite Systems International Limited (ACSI) in 2000 to provide total composite solutions to the automotive industry.

Website: www.owenscorning.com

Knorr-Bremse FE, Germany
Set up by German inventor Georg Knorr in 1905, Knorr-Bremse is the world's leading manufacturer of braking systems for rail and commercial vehicles. Now based in Munich, Germany, the company has, for 100 years, pioneered the development, production and marketing of modern braking systems for a variety of applications, making an important contribution to improved safety on the railways and the roads. It operates in 45 locations worldwide.

Its key products are:

	Air braking systems for rail and commercial vehicles
	Door systems for rail vehicles
	Vibration dampers

Its customers include DaimlerChrysler, MAN, Renault, Scania and Volvo. In 2002, Knorr-Bremse and TACO came together to set up Knorr-Bremse Systems for Commercial Vehicles India Private Limited, a joint venture that aims to offer the Indian commercial vehicle industry the latest technology in braking systems.

Website: www.knorr-bremse.com

Menzolit Fibron GmbH, Germany

Menzolit Fibron GmbH of Germany is the world's largest maker of sheet-moulded composites (SMC). It manufactures 100,000 metric tonnes of SMC and moulds 35,000 metric tonnes of SMC parts annually.

Menzolit Fibron supplies a wide variety of parts not only to all segments of the automotive industry, but also to the domestic electrical and railway industries. It has manufacturing units in Germany, France, UK, Italy, Turkey and Slovakia.

Its major customers include DaimlerChrysler, Volkswagen, BMW, MG Rover, John Deere, Volvo, MAN and DAF.

Website: www.menzolit-fibron.de