Owens Corning to acquire WearDeck, decking and structural lumber manufacturer
Owens Corning announced that it signed an agreement with JR Plastics Corporation to acquire WearDeck®, a premium producer of composites weather-resistant decking for commercial and residential applications in North America. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions and is anticipated to close by the end of the second quarter.
WearDeck products offer a long-lasting, strong, and durable solution for weather-resistant decking. This decking can be used for both commercial and residential applications, given its mechanical performance and lower lifetime costs compared with conventional composite decking. Using proprietary technology and processes, WearDeck products are manufactured from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) leveraging Owens Corning’s glass fiber technology, delivering a high-performance product that is stronger than most other decking options.
“The acquisition of WearDeck is a positive step in advancing our strategy to drive continued growth in Owens Corning and pivoting our Composites business to focus on high-value material solutions within the building and construction space,” said Composites President Marcio Sandri. “WearDeck brings exciting opportunities to further leverage our building materials expertise and glass fiber material science technology to significantly expand our current addressable markets.”
WearDeck employs about 100 people at its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Ocala, Florida, in the U.S.
WearDeck expects to deliver sales of about $60 million in full year 2022 and to significantly grow this business in the coming years to contribute to Owens Corning’s target of achieving $10 billion in revenue by 2024. Owens Corning estimates the North American decking market to be more than $7 billion and to grow at about 5% per year. Composite decking products capture over 30% of a market that is expected to increase in the coming years.
James Wear, founder of WearDeck, stated, “I am very pleased with WearDeck’s strong performance over the years and would like to sincerely thank our highly motivated team for their dedication and hard work to build a thriving composite decking business. The combination with Owens Corning will accelerate the growth of this business and greatly benefit our customers.”