Date:  October, 2007

NICHIHA OPENS ITS FIRST U.S. MANUFACTURING PLANT IN GEORGIA
New Facility Design Provides a Reduced Carbon Footprint
Through Water Treatment and Reuse and Recycling of Manufacturing Waste

ATLANTA (October 2007) – Nichiha USA announces the grand opening of its new 100 million dollar environmentally conscious concrete fiber cement manufacturing plant in Macon, Georgia. The November 7, 2007 opening will showcase the 300,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility that demonstrates Nichiha’s dedication to reducing its carbon footprint. The Macon plant features an on-site water treatment and reuse system and the ability to recycle all scrap fiber cement produced.

“Nichiha is committed to social responsibility and makes every effort to reduce its carbon footprint by instituting ecologically-minded manufacturing techniques,” commented Darrin Haugan, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Nichiha. “A highlight of our effort can be seen in the engineering of on-site water treatment and reuse system that enables our plant to recycle 95 percent of all water used in the manufacturing process.”

Constructed of concrete, the Nichiha plant utilizes efficient methods of insulation making it one of the most energy efficient manufacturing facilities in the industry as well as in the state of Georgia. Releasing odorless emissions totaling less than 90 tons of VOC’s per year, the plant is within all state, federal and local regulations. The majority of raw materials used to produce Nichiha fiber cement products come from natural manufacturer’s byproduct which would normally be shipped to landfills and recycled pulp fiber. Nichiha is also able to recycle fiber cement scraps back into the manufacturing process, thereby reducing the amount of waste produced. In addition to the unsurpassed efficiency of the ecological manufacturing systems employed there, it is the only fiber cement facility nationwide to house all produced products indoors in a 100,000 square foot warehouse on-site.

Earlier this year, Nichiha was recognized with an EGDE Award on behalf of Governor Sonny Perdue and the OneGeorgia Authority for its investment in Macon, Ga., which is responsible for creating 80 new jobs with plans for an additional 20 positions in 2008. With the addition of the Macon plant, Nichiha will be able to fulfill the demand for fiber cement throughout the Southeast market with a superior product at a competitive price.

For more information regarding the capabilities of the new plant or Nichiha’s fiber cement technology contact Nichiha at 1.86.NICHIHA.1 or visit www.nichiha.com.

About Nichiha
In 1998, Nichiha U.S.A., Inc. was established in Norcross, Ga. as a joint venture of the Nichiha Corporation of Japan and the Sumitomo Corporations of Japan and North America. Nichiha, an international leader in fiber cement technology for more than 30 years, markets distinct patterns of fiber cement siding products in the U.S. In 2007, Nichiha will open its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Macon, Ga. responding to an increase in demand for fiber cement products in the Southeast market.

Media Contact: Jana Puckett / 770.855.8137 / jjpuckett@aol.com