Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

Brazil: A study has successfully enhanced the insulation properties of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) composites by incorporating micronised leather shavings. In a report published in the Journal of Materials Research and Technology, Gabriel Deltrejo Ribeiro and his team concluded that the new SBR-leather composite insulation had a thermal conductivity of 0.073W/mK and achieved a temperature attenuation of about 15°C.

France: Ireland-based Kingspan has closed its acquisition of Ondura Group. The group consists of light roofing producer Onduline, membranes producer CB and waterproofing systems producer Alwitra. It operates plants in four European countries, as well as Brazil, Malaysia, Turkey and the US. Law firm Clifford Chance, a long-term partner of Kingspan, advised the insulation group through the deal.

On 27 September 2022, Kingspan acquired waterproofing membranes producer Derbigum in neighbouring Belgium. Derbigum has recycled 30,000t of bitumen in its operations to date.

Ireland: Kingspan’s revenue rose by 12% year-on-year to Euro2.24bn in the first half of 2019 from Euro2.01bn in the same period in 2018. Its profit grew by 18% to Euro173m from Euro147m. Sales of its panel and boards products increased but panel sales growth was faster, supported by most territories with the exception of the Middle East.

“We have delivered a record first half with revenue growth in all our business units and a strong trading profit performance. We continue to expand our global production footprint with new facilities under construction in the US, Brazil and Sweden. The near-term outlook is solid although the political uncertainty in the UK, weakness in Serling, and weaker German economy are amongst risks we are monitoring closely,” said Gene Murtagh, the chief executive of Kingspan.

The building materials company is close to completing a new insulation panel plant at Modesto, California in the US. A new panel plant is also being considered in Pennsylvania, US and a new panel plant in Cambuí, Brazil is expected to be operational by the fourth quarter of 2019. A new board plant in Sweden is scheduled to start production in mid-2020.

Brazil: Kingspan has acquired a 51% stake of Isoeste Construtivos Isotérmicos (Isoeste). Isoeste, an insulated panel manufacturer, operates from four production sites with approximately 630 employees. No amount for the transaction has been disclosed.

"We are delighted to create this partnership with the founders of Isoeste, the number one player in Brazil's insulated panels market. Together with our recent investments in Colombia and Mexico, this acquisition firmly places Kingspan in a market leading position across Latin America, with a strong platform for further expansion in the region," said Gene Murtagh, Kingspan’s chief executive officer (CEO).

Brazil/Finland: Saint-Gobain Isover has obtained Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for its products in Brazil and Finland. It has obtained five EPDs in Brazil where it has become the first insulation company in the country to obtain EPDs registered with Environdec. In Finland it has published three new verified EPDs through the Norwegian EPD platform EPD Norge.

Brazil: Armacell has purchased PoliPex, a Brazilian manufacturer of extruded polyethylene insulation foams, in a share deal for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition will strengthen Armacell´s product portfolio in Latin America and increases the domestic customer service levels, as well as, the support for regional original equipment manufacturers.

“PoliPex has decades of technology know-how in extruded polyurethane production as well as a strong domestic team. We are looking forward to serving our clients across Latin America with a broader product portfolio and extended customer service levels,” said Patrick Mathieu, President and CEO of Armacell International.

PoliPex produces extruded polyurethane insulation foams in Brazil and has approximately 80 employees. The company was founded by John Johannes van Mullem in 1991 and maintains its headquarters in Santa Catarina in the South of Brazil, as well as distribution centres in the South and the Northeast of the country. In the calendar year 2015 PoliPex generated revenues of approximately US$13m.

Brazil: Sulzer has received an order from Innova for the delivery of a foam production system with Sulzer's extruder-based melt impregnation technology. The 24,000t/yr plant in Triunfo, Brazil, will produce expanded polystyrene (EPS). Commercial production is planned to start in the middle of 2016.

Videolar-Innova is the first and only petrochemical company in Brazil to integrate the production units for ethylbenzene, toluene, styrene monomer and polystyrene into a single industrial plant. The newly-formed company is the biggest producer of styrene monomer and polystyrene in Brazil. With Sulzer's support, Videolar-Innova will enter the South American insulation market. The company will provide strategic downstream integration with unique production capabilities, in a region that still imports most of its EPS.

Brazil: According to See News, co-founder and commercial director Rafael Safra said that Brazilian sound insulation and rubber flooring manufacturer Aubicon Industria e Comercio Ltda is exploring options to sell a stake of its company to an external investor.

Safra said that the sale would enable the company to boost research and development spending and grow its customer base in South America. He added that Aubicon had commenced exports to other countries in the region in 2015.

Aubicon would prefer a foreign strategic investor, but would also consider a deal for a minority stake with a private equity group or a green investment fund, according to Safra. Teaming up with a green fund is a logical step for the company because most of its products are made with recycled tyre rubber as the raw material. In the case of financial investors, Aubicon would not be interested unless the potential buyer agreed to participate actively in the company's growth strategy development.

Brazil: Saint-Gobain has acquired a 70% stake in Brazil-based British Indústria e Comércio Ltd for an undisclosed amount. Saint-Gobain said that the deal with the Brazilian group, which manufactures and sells non-woven abrasives for industrial applications, would strengthen its position in the industry and add new customers to its portfolio.

Brazil: Elcateq, which manufactures a range of insulation materials for roofing and other construction applications, is eyeing sales of over US$1m in 2015.

"This year's target is US$1m of turnover. In 2012 our turnover was zero, but in three years things have constantly changed for the better," said Elasteq board member Kristian Kahre. Elcateq started production in 2012 and now has a portfolio of nine products. In 2013 Krimelte, Estonia's polyurethane foams and sealants producer, acquired a 40% stake. It now has a majority shareholding.

Kahre said that Elcateq would also consider future expansion. "We need to build up some reserves, but I believe that further expansion is possible, maybe further development of the company within Brazil," said Kahre. "We also might increase production space at some point."