Bay City, Mich., – Eovations, LLC, an affiliate of Universal Forest Products (Nasdaq: UFPI), has announced the introduction of Eovations™ extruded oriented technology, a patented process producing a fully fiberized thermoplastic-mineral composite that replicates the fibrous structure of wood and creates a unique combination of strength, durability, aesthetic and workability properties. The company says the composite material is a strong candidate to replace wood, wood-plastic composite, plastic and metal in a wide range of structural and nonstructural applications. Eovations, LLC will license the technology to others for use in the commercialization of products and components in applications where the composite’s properties provide significant performance and competitive advantages. Examples include building products, outdoor and landscape structures and furnishings, transportation and material handling products and components, marine products and structures, park and recreation installations, agricultural applications, and industrial and commercial installations. Eovations technology uses a proprietary extrusion/drawing process to combine mineral particles with a thermoplastic matrix, creating a fully-fibrous and molecularly-oriented lineal composite system. Claude Brown, Eovations, LLC Vice President of Technology & Innovation, said the resulting material equals and, in some cases, improves upon the physical strength, dimensional stability, environmental durability, aesthetics and workability properties of wood while overcoming the strength and other limitations of wood-plastic composites. Dick McBride, Universal Forest Products General Manager of Operations, said “The possibilities created by Eovations technology extend significantly beyond traditional applications for wood and wood-plastic composites. This remarkable lineal material can be used almost anywhere a lighter, stronger, longer-lasting material is needed. Product designers, architects and engineers can use Eovations to overcome uses a proprietary extrusion/drawing process to combine mineral particles with a thermoplastic matrix, creating a fully-fibrous and molecularly-oriented lineal composite system. Claude Brown, Eovations, LLC Vice President of Technology & Innovation, said the resulting material equals and, in some cases, improves upon the physical strength, dimensional stability, environmental durability, aesthetics and workability properties of wood while overcoming the strength and other limitations of wood-plastic composites. Dick McBride, Universal Forest Products General Manager of Operations, said “The possibilities created by Eovations technology extend significantly beyond traditional applications for wood and wood-plastic composites. This remarkable lineal material can be used almost anywhere a lighter, stronger, longer-lasting material is needed. Product designers, architects and engineers can use Eovations to overcome the limitations of other materials, creating differentiated new products in the factory and solving difficult application challenges in the field.” Processes based on Eovations technology can employ a variety of polymer and mineral raw materials and a wide processing window enables finished composite properties such as density to be customized for specific applications. The appearance of the finished material can also be tailored, with a variety of surface textures and a range of colors incorporated during processing. Brown said fabrication with the composite is almost identical to traditional carpentry. “The material can be machined, milled, cut and drilled using basic carpentry skills and common woodworking tools. Fastener acceptance and hold is excellent using conventional nails, screws and staples. Variations of the composite readily accept common paints, allowing durable, attractive finishes to be applied during product manufacturing or in the field.” Eovations, LLC offers Eovations technology under flexible application and production licensing models. Licensees choosing the application model obtain the use of composite material produced by Eovations, LLC. The production licensing model enables licensees to utilize Eovations process technology in their own operations to produce composite material independently. Licensing under both models is for pre-defined applications. EOVATIONS, LLC Eovations, LLC, an affiliate of Universal Forest Products, Inc. (Nasdaq: UFPI), is a technology-driven company founded to bring patented Eovations™ technology to commercialization in a broad range of applications. Eovations licenses the use of components made with Eovations technology to independent product manufacturers for predefined applications. The company also licenses independent manufacturers to practice Eovations technology in their own operations for pre-defined applications. Eovations technology was originally developed by The Dow Chemical Company. Headquartered in Bay City, Mich., USA, Eovations, LLC is pursuing licensing relationships for Eovations technology with leaders in product innovation globally. For more information, go to www.eovationsllc.com. UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. Universal Forest Products, Inc. is a holding company that provides capital, management and administrative resources to subsidiaries that design, manufacture and market wood and wood-alternative products for DIY/retail home centers and other retailers, structural lumber products for the manufactured housing industry, engineered wood components for residential and commercial construction, specialty wood packaging and components for various industries, and forming products for concrete construction. The Company's consumer products subsidiary offers a large portfolio of outdoor living products, including wood composite decking, decorative balusters, post caps and plastic lattice. Its lawn and garden group offers an array of products, such as trellises and arches, to retailers nationwide. Universal's subsidiaries also provide framing services for the site-built construction market. Founded in 1955, Universal Forest Products is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., with operations throughout North America. For more about Universal Forest Products, go to www.ufpi.com.