Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

Germany: BASF is set to expand production of its Neopor graphite-enriched expanded polystyrene (EPS) at its Ludwigshafen plant in Rhineland-Palatinate by 50,000t/yr. From its commissioning in 2027, the expanded line will help BASF to meet increased demand for the material. Neopor serves as raw granulate for use in the production of insulation materials for building envelopes. The company says that it offers a 30% greater heat retention than traditional EPS.

Director Stephan Kothrade said "Neopor is classified as a 'Pioneer' in the highest category of the Sustainable Solution Steering (Triple-S) sustainability assessment which BASF uses to evaluate all its products, and is part of BASF's Sustainable Future Solutions."

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."

Austria: Law firm Schoenherr says that it advised Austrotherm on merger control filings for the latter’s acquisition of the expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation business of building materials producer Brucha. Prior to completion of the deal, Austrotherm employed 1400 people and produces insulation at 26 plants in 12 countries in Central and Southeast Europe and Türkiye.

Poland: Austria-based Hirsch Servo Group has concluded a deal to acquire expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation producer Tyron. Hirsch Servo Group previously acquired EPS assets in Romania through its takeover of Arcon’s insulating materials division in 2016.

APA Economic News has reported that Hirsch Servo Group chair Harald Kogler said "By entering the Polish insulation market, we not only see a significant expansion of our product portfolio but also important impulses for our already established production sites in Wrocław and Łódź, which primarily focus on packaging production."

EU: The European Union (EU) is holding a consultation over possible changes to the limit on the use of hexabromocyclododecane, a brominated flame retardant (BFR) in consumer products. This includes expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation. The consultation will run until 26 December 2023.

Hungary: Masterplast reported sales worth Euro114m during the first nine months of 2023. This represents a year-on-year decline of 31% from Euro164m in the corresponding period in 2022. The producer’s earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) losses were Euro2.93m, compared to a positive figure of Euro19.3m. During the third quarter of 2023, sales declined in Hungary by 45% and across its export markets by 26%. They rose by 21% in Poland, by 8% in Croatia and by 2% in Ukraine.

Masterplast attributed its sales decline to low demand due to global inflation and rising interest rates amid on-going lockdowns, energy crises and war in Ukraine, while energy-saving renovation initiatives have also been subject to delays. The company set a savings target of Euro2m/yr and laid off 250 employees, including 210 from its plants in Serbia. It completed the construction of new expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) capacity in Italy and Serbia, which it expects to bring online later in 2023.

Austria: Austrotherm plans to raise the prices of its expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation products by up to 15% from 25 September 2023. The insulation producer said earlier in August 2023 that production reductions and unexpected plant shutdowns had increased the costs of its main raw materials.

Croatia: Austria-based Austrotherm plans to invest Euro12m in the construction of a new expanded polystyrene insulation plant in Zabok, near Zagreb. SeeNews has reported that the plant is scheduled for commissioning in early-mid 2024. When operational, Austrotherm expects it to employ 30 people.

Chief executive officer Klaus Haberfellner said "More than 60% of Croatian homes are poorly insulated or not insulated at all." He added "There is also significant potential for insulation of buildings on the popular Croatian Adriatic coast."

Spain: Norway-based BEWi has concluded a deal for the acquisition of an 80% stake in Aislamientos y Envases. Aislamientos y Envases operates three Spanish insulation plants, where it produces its expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation products, including boards for underfloor heating and panels for external thermal insulation composite systems.

BEWi CEO Christian Bekken said “Through this acquisition, we are expanding our geographic footprint into Spain, primarily within the market for insulation solutions." Bekken added "There is a huge need to make buildings in Europe more energy efficient, to reduce CO₂ and energy costs.”

Romania: Austrotherm has commissioned its third Romanian insulation plant in Calan, near Deva, Hunedoara County. The new Euro6m facility will produce the company's Austrotherm EPS and Austrotherm EPS-Plus expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation, and also houses office spaces and storehouses. Sales manager Roxana Ghioca said that the storage capacity will enable the site to supply the Transylvanian market with Austrotherm's EPS and extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation product offering.

Austrotherm managing director Klaus Haberfellner said “Transylvania is among the Central and Northwestern Romanian regions currently with a good economic situation. One third of Austrotherm Romania's topwinds are generated in this region. The existing EPS plants - which are situated a long distance from this have already reached their capacity limit." Addressing Romania's need for insulation, Haberfellner said "If not now, when does saving energy make more sense? The dramatic increase in energy prices has long since arrived in Romania."