Armstrong Announced as Finalist for Two National Manufacturing Excellence Awards

April 30, 2026-LANCASTER, Pa - Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE: AWI) an Americas leader in the design and manufacture of innovative interior and exterior architectural applications including ceilings, specialty walls and exterior metal solutions, today announced that two of its plant locations have earned national recognition for manufacturing excellence and innovation.

The company's Hilliard, Ohio, plant was announced as an award finalist by the Innovation Research Interchange (IRI), and both the Hilliard and Macon, Ga., plants earned finalist status for the National Association of Manufacturers' (NAM) awards program, led by the Manufacturing Leadership Council.

IRI Excellence Award for Innovation in Sustainability
The IRI's Innovation Excellence Awards recognize companies that are driving innovation in manufacturing through their "outstanding vision and pursuit of excellence." Late last month, the Hilliard plant was announced as a finalist for the IRI Excellence Award for Innovation in Sustainability based on its use of Vibratory Shear Enhanced Processing (VSEP) technology to reclaim industrial wastewater and reduce landfill waste.

Through this process, approximately 80% of wastewater is recovered as clean water, and the remaining 20% flows into a manageable solid waste stream. The solid waste is then recycled by a secondary company for use as an absorbent material in their retention process. Earning finalist status alongside DuPont and Owens Corning, the Armstrong project was selected because of its meaningful impact and significant contributions to sustainability efforts within the company.

NAM Manufacturing Leadership Awards
The Manufacturing Leadership Council, the digital transformation division of NAM, announced late last week that the Armstrong Hilliard and Macon plants are finalists for the 2026 Manufacturing Leadership Awards. These awards honor "world-class manufacturers for outstanding achievements in digital transformation," and Armstrong is ranked among industry leaders including the IBM Corporation, Saint-Gobain North America and Schneider Electric USA in its category.

Hilliard was selected again for its VSEP project, while Macon earned recognition for its loose fiber project, which originated in response to increasing constraints on fiber supply across the paper and building materials industries. Since the project's implementation, Macon has diverted tens of thousands of tons of waste fiber from landfills, helping partner companies reduce their own disposal costs and environmental impact. Additionally, the Armstrong team secured a long-term fiber supply, reduced material costs in comparison to recycled print and improved operational resilience.

"We are exceptionally proud of our Hilliard and Macon plant teams for their work in pursuit of manufacturing excellence and sustainable innovation," said Mark Hershey, President & Chief Executive Officer at Armstrong. "Earning recognition from respected industry organizations such as IRI and NAM, alongside some of the leading names in manufacturing, underscores the operational talent and innovative capabilities of our company."

The winners for each award will be announced at their respective events on May 7 in Charlotte, N.C., for IRI, and on June 24 in Scottsdale, Ariz., for NAM.