Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

Belgium: VIPA International, the Vacuum Insulation Panel Association, has said that the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) is set to complete a final draft standard for the for the use of vacuum insulation panels (VIP) technology in building applications by the end of 2016.

“The VIP industry is looking forward to the publication of this standard. This was one of main motors driving the creation of the association and in the past year we commissioned three studies that will hopefully accelerate some of the technical discussions within Working Group 11. Standards are key tools to increase customer trust in new products so we hope this will impact very positively on the market acceptance of vacuum insulation panels,” said president of VIPA International, Roland Caps

The CEN Technical Committee 88 (thermal insulating materials and products) Working Group 11 (vacuum insulation products - VIP) is responsible for drafting the buildings specification for the factory made vacuum insulated panels. The Technical Committee 88, WG 11, has agreed on a general procedure to extrapolate the results of accelerated aging tests, both for silica and non-silica core materials like glass fibres. This allows determining the mean thermal conductivity values throughout the considered service lifetime of the panels, which for applications in the construction industry, similar to other insulation materials in this industry, is set to 25 years.

VIPA International plans to extend the procedures defined by the CEN TC88/WG11, which apply only to buildings, to other applications where VIPs are used like appliances, hot water tanks and containers or boxes for temperature sensitive goods. A separate quality and testing regulation already exists and is being reviewed together with an approved Inspection and Certification Body. A special VIP Quality Mark will be awarded to VIP manufacturers that comply with these rules.

For an article on the history of VIPs and VIPA see the May 2016 issue of Global Insulation

Belgium: VIPA International, the Vacuum Insulation Panel Association, has commented on new regulations on energy efficiency labelling ahead of a vote by the European Parliament. It believes that the current system of labelling is too complicated for consumers so it welcomes the work by the European Parliament and the European Council to develop a new scale for energy related products. The Industry, Research and Energy Committee of the European Parliament is scheduled to take a vote on the issue on 14 June 2016

"We are convinced that the new energy label will be an important measure to correctly inform the European consumers on the actual energy efficiency performances of appliances, and we therefore support the work of the European Institutions in this direction," said Gregor Erbenich, Chairman of the Public Affairs Working Group of VIPA International.

VIPA International notes that the frequency of the rescaling will be a central issue to ensure the reliability of the label. Therefore, it recommends that any rescaling should be performed separately for each product, not via a fixed periodic review. It suggests that only simple and standardised information should be included in the database of energy efficient products. Finally, it recommends that all energy labels should be clearly visible in shops.

Ireland: Belgian laminate floors producer Unilin has announced the acquisition of Irish insulation boards manufacturer Xtratherm. The acquisition will make Unilin an important player in the growing market of insulation materials. Xtratherm is also active in Belgium. The company inaugurated a new plant in the summer of 2015 for insulation boards in Feluy, specifically for the European continent.

Belgium: Kingspan has acquired full control of the industrial insulation products joint venture that it shares with Belgium's Recticel. Previously, the two groups each owned 50% of Kingspan Tarec Industrial Insulation (KTII). Kingspan has now taken full control of KTII via an estimated Euro8.5m purchase.

Kingspan and Recticel launched their joint venture in 2006, combining their respective industrial insulation businesses in the process. KTII is a niche operator, producing premium performance pipe insulation products for petrochemical operations and the cool truck industry. The business had revenues of around Euro31m in 2014.

Belgium: Etex has announced that from 1 January 2015, a new leader will take the helm. Fons Peeters, the current CEO of Etex, will retire at the end of 2014 after 41 years with Etex, the last four of which he was CEO. Paul Van Oyen, currently the head of the Promat Division, will take over his role.

"On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to thank Fons Peeters for his immense dedication during his long career at Etex," said chairman of the board, Jean-Louis de Cartier de Marchienne. "His exceptional guidance proved to be an important added value for our company and ought to be an inspiration to all of us, since he helped to shape Etex as we know it today."

On 1 January 2015 Paul Van Oyen will take up the position. Before joining Etex, he worked for several years as a researcher and technologist. His career at Etex spans 24 years, during which period he gained both expertise and experience in different regions and different divisions of the company. Business development manager and head of the Eastern European business are some of his past roles. He has been developing Promat, Etex's high-performance insulation and passive fire protection division, since 2011. Paul Van Oyen has been appointed until the end of 2021 with the mission of pursuing further Etex's ambitious long-term strategy, which focuses on both internal and external growth.

"In order to trigger organic growth, Etex will maintain its capital expenditure programme with yearly investments of about Euro200m," said Jean-Louis de Cartier de Marchienne. "At the same time, the group will further reduce its debt, aiming at a debt ratio below two, which should open up future growth possibilities. In light of these ambitious plans, the board of directors and Etex's 17,500 employees wish Paul Van Oyen every success in guiding Etex on a path of continuous growth."

Benelux Region: Building insulation and packaging group Synbra is consolidating its position in the Benelux Region, which encompasses Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg, with the acquisition of the local expanded polystyrene (EPS) activities of Knauf Insulation.

Synbra's subsidiary, IsoBouw Systems, is set to take over the region's Knauf manufacturing and sales operations, including an EPS plant in Oosterhout Municipality, Holland, by 1 August 2014. The Oosterhout plant produces EPS and wood wool products, although IsoBouw Systems said that it plans to close the EPS unit.

Synbra's Etten-Leur said that the acquisition is a strategic move for IsoBouw, which will continue to supply EPS insulation products from its own plants in the Wijchen, Someren and Oldenzaal Municipalities in the Netherlands.

"IsoBouw is the EPS specialist in the Benelux Region," said IsoBouw's general manager, Will Kemperman. "The acquired business unit fits perfectly with our current activities. This gives us even more space to focus on innovative product developments." The move will also strengthen the position of its existing customers in the market.

Knauf Insulation retains a glass wool production facility at Visé, Belgium as well as EPS plants in Germany at Wadersloh, Bad Waldsee and Hermeskeil. The firm also operates extruded polystyrene (XPS) plants in France, Italy and the UK.

Belgium: Spray foam manufacturer, Icynene Inc, has formally opened its first European office in Brussels.

"Over the past 18 months, Icynene has experienced a significant growth in Europe, which we expect to continue at the same pace as we look to new markets in the region. Thermal regulations have become more stringent and are now focused on air-tightness and healthy insulation products. Icynene nicely fits into this new environment and brings alternative solutions to traditional insulation." said Bertrand Lauret, Managing Director of Abington Gate Europe, Icynene contact for Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

The office opened on 7 January 2012 following negotiations with the Brussels Science Incubator (BLSI). The office will initially accommodate two staff with an expansion expected later in 2013.

Established in 1986, Icynene builds energy-efficient residential and commercial structures in over 31 countries. Its products include light density open cell and medium density closed cell spray foam insulation for both insulation and air barrier purposes.