OMNOVA Solutions Inc. News

OMNOVA Solutions Recognizes Employee Innovations with 2007 Technology Awards

FAIRLAWN, Ohio, June 30 PRNewswire-FirstCall — OMNOVA Solutions (NYSE: OMN) today announced its 2007 Technology Awards recipients. This annual award program recognizes exemplary technology-based contributions by associates in OMNOVA's research and development, sales and marketing, technical service, operations and product management organizations.

Technology innovations support activities in new product development and in a number of OMNOVA's end use markets, including commercial graphic printing, in-ground swimming pools, modular office paneling and masking tape.

Recipients hail from all across OMNOVA's global operations, including its Performance Chemicals business segment facilities in Akron, Ohio, Mogadore, Ohio, Chester, South Carolina, Fitchburg, Massachusetts and Shanghai, China; and Decorative Products business segment facilities in Columbus, Mississippi and Jeannette, Pennsylvania.

"Innovative new products and exceptional service are cornerstones of our growth strategy, providing OMNOVA with a strong and sustainable competitive advantage," said Kevin

McMullen, OMNOVA Solutions' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "This year's award recipients exemplify OMNOVA's focus on technologies that provide unique value propositions to our customers and result in profitable growth for our Company."

Innovation titles, summaries and recipients are as follows: Color-Matched Wallcovering Panels Ronnie Bell - Columbus, MS Steve Bergeron - Field Sales Percy Shelton - Columbus, MS

OMNOVA's Decorative Products unit was able to secure business with a leading innovator of office furniture by meeting stringent color-matching criteria within its commercial wallcovering product line. To ensure the desired quality for the customer's demountable wall systems, a team of associates from OMNOVA's Columbus, Mississippi facility made several process adjustments and initiated strict color-match guidelines. As a result of these efforts, the customer named OMNOVA its Supplier of the Year.

In-Ground Swimming Pool Liner Sunil Deoras - Jeannette, PA Tim Polaski - Jeannette, PA Steve Pcolka, Jr. - Jeannette, PA

Associates at OMNOVA's Jeannette, Pennsylvania Decorative Products facility developed an in-ground pool liner, leveraging the Company's vinyl films technology for entry into an exciting related market. The new product had to meet stringent application requirements and retain a high aesthetic value. The team exceeded those requirements by developing an in-ground swimming pool liner film, which was hailed by the customer as "one of the best printed films we have encountered."

Inkjet Receptive Coatings Ted Del Donno - Fitchburg, MA Eric Rall - Field Sales Cathy Smith - Akron, OH

Associates from OMNOVA's Performance Chemicals sales and technology teams worked with a customer to develop a customized family of binders and coatings for use in commercial graphic signage. The resulting business also prompted the customer to purchase vinyl film substrate from OMNOVA's Decorative Products business.

New Research & Development Polymerization Vessels and Enhancements Carla McBain - Akron, OH Jacki Laurich - Mogadore, OH Jeff Pazzelli - Mogadore, OH Joy Untch - Mogadore, OH Brian Doucet - Mogadore, OH Mitch Shipman - Mogadore, OH

A cross-functional team of associates from OMNOVA's Mogadore, Ohio Pilot Plant and Akron, Ohio Technology Center built upon the Company's core competencies in polymer manufacturing and customization by leading the design and installation of new research and development polymerization vessels. The vessels, located at the Mogadore Pilot Plant, provide the Performance Chemicals business with a means to strengthen its new product development capabilities, as well as drive strategic growth and operational excellence.

Saturants and Release Coatings for Asia Market Haiping Fu - Shanghai, China Rob Holmes - Akron, OH Doug Harper - Chester, SC Norm Porter - Akron, OH Bobbie Varnadore - Chester, SC

As one the leading suppliers of chemistries for the tape and adhesives market in the United States, OMNOVA's Performance Chemicals business is also working to achieve similar success in the Asia-Pacific region. A global, cross-functional team of OMNOVA specialty chemicals associates has been collaborating with customers throughout Asia to transition the Company's existing technology base to meet the unique needs of the market. After diligent research and close collaboration with these customers, the team successfully developed custom chemistries to overcome the challenges presented by local paper formulations and manufacturing processes, lengthy shipping distances and other variables.

OMNOVA Solutions Inc. is a technology-based company with proforma 2007 sales of $836 million and a current workforce of 2,810 employees worldwide. OMNOVA is an innovator of emulsion polymers, specialty chemicals, and decorative and functional surfaces for a variety of commercial, industrial and residential end uses. Visit OMNOVA Solutions on the internet at www.omnova.com.

SOURCE OMNOVA Solutions Inc.

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