FERRO CORP <FOE> SETS JOINT VENTURE Ferro Corp said it has formed a joint venture with Paris-based Alsthom Inudstrial Group to export U.S. epxertise in specialty composite materials to the European market. Ferro said although the airframe and aerospace industries are the prime users of composite materials today, it plans to develop applications for the ground transportation and industrial markets in the near future. Ferro also announced it has agreed to purchase CompositAir, a developer of composit materials applications, for an undisclosed sum.