Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

Sweden: Owens Corning subsidiary Paroc has applied to expand its Hällekis insulation plant to 115,000t/yr of stone wool production capacity as part of an on-going upgrade. Nordic Daily News has reported that the company is also electrifying the plant and implementing recycled raw materials use. When commissioned, the upgraded plant will process 100,000t/yr of recycled minerals.

UK: A team at the University of Exeter in Devon is investigating possible types of insulation for small-scale farms to produce using byproducts from crop harvests. The project, supported by construction engineering firm Local Works Studio, is part of the Ecological Citizens Network. It is intended to bolster rural economies, address industrial labour shortages and advance sustainable construction. Farmers Guide News has reported that an accompanying podcast and other publications will help to generate engagement.

Team leader Caroline Nye said "Participation and employment in a pioneering, environmentally sensitive new industry, centred in the countryside, could foster a closer engagement of deprived rural communities with the land and bring the benefits of a distributed local economy."

Germany: Bauder has launched BauderECO FF, an 80% biomass polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation for flat roofs. Construction Management News has reported that the product offers 75% reduced CO₂ compared with conventional PIR insulation, and is compatible with the Bauder Total Roof System and Thermofol warm roof waterproofing products.

Germany: Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research have developed a novel insulation from fungal mycelium. Professional Engineering News has reported that the materials are naturally woven by the mycelium filaments by which fungi spread. Researchers successfully varied fungus type, feed and environmental conditions to produce a range of performance characteristics comparable to conventional expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation. Additionally, the materials offer high fire resistance and moisture regulation.

Austria: Multiple actors across the Austrian insulation, construction and environmental management sectors have launched a nationwide expanded polystyrene (EPS) recycling pilot. Initiative leader Fraunhofer Austria Research aims for the project, entitled EPSolutely, to establish a circular economy for EPS insulation based on its on-site collection service. Participants include insulation producers Austrotherm, Hirsch Porozell and Steinbacher Dämmstoff. The Kleine Zeitung newspaper has reported that the service provides reuseable bags and manages workflows via an app. The pilot will conclude in December 2024, with the outcomes informing a possible industrial-scale roll-out. Insulation producers have reportedly invested in new separation equipment to meet the requirements of the materials.

Steinbacher Dämmstoff head of research and development Maximilian Bernard said "The biggest challenge is the varying quality of the material delivered. The differences range from different colours to different raw materials such as extruded polystyrene (XPS) to various foreign substances such as screws and plaster residues. Despite these differences, a consistent quality of the new EPS panels must be guaranteed."