Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

US: After two years of research and development, DuPont has launched 'an industry first:' insulating housewrap.

"This is arguably the most important introduction in our product group in a long time," said Jim Ash, new Business Development Manager for DuPont, to Remodelling magazine. "It's taking us into the insulation business, which is a big strategic push for us, and hopefully the first of many. All the while, our goal is to help build durable houses and mitigate risk - we haven't deviated from that."

Tyvek Thermawrap R5.0 comprises DuPont's Tyvek housewrap bonded to an insulation blanket. Ash said that Thermawrap R5.0 provides builders with another alternative to insulating homes from the outside. The goal is to offer a net effective R-value of R-5.

DuPont said that the Tyvek on the outside of the blanket works the same as if it was installed on its own by keeping air and bulk water out of walls, but also serves as a breathable barrier allowing moisture vapour to escape to the outside. In addition, DuPont said that the blanket increases the temperature of the sheathing, which decreases the chance for interstitial wall condensation in heating climates. "This reduces the likelihood of getting moisture vapour inside the walls," said Ash.
The insulation blanket is made of proprietary fibres, including 20% pre-consumer recycled Tyvek. The product is available in 4x40ft rolls.

Russia: Saint-Gobain has obtained the Federal Antimonopoly Service's permission to purchase 74.9% of the voting shares in the heat insulation materials producer Isoroc, based in Tambov Oblast. When the sale completes the French company will own 100% of Isoroc.

New Zealand: The Court of Appeal has confirmed that the term 'batts' is not in common usage in New Zealand as part of a fight over whether Pink Batts' trademark of the word should be revoked.

Fletcher Building's unit Tasman Insulation makes Pink Batts and sued rival Knauf Insulation for trademark infringement because it used the words 'batt' and 'batts' on its Earthwool products and also on the earthwool.co.nz website. Tasman has owned the Batts trademark for insulation materials in New Zealand since 1973. The term 'batts' is not covered by trademark protection outside New Zealand and is used in Australia and the USA to describe pre-cut pieces of insulation material.

Knauf started exporting some of its Earthwool products to New Zealand in 2011 with packaging that used the words 'batt' and 'batts' in the installation instructions. In November 2011, Knauf applied to revoke Tasman's 'batts' trademark and in December 2015, Tasman started trademark infringement proceedings. Knauf claimed that Tasman's trademark registration was not valid because the word 'batts' had also become generic in New Zealand. To succeed, Knauf had to prove that 'batts' had become a common name in general use by New Zealanders and that this came about by Tasman's acts or omissions.

In his decision in May 2014, the High Court's Justice Brendan Brown did not believe it had. Even if he was wrong on this point, Justice Brown said, Knauf had fallen 'significantly short' of establishing that it was the acts and inactivity of Tasman that caused the trademark to become a common name in general use. The judge also made ruling claims from both sides that the other had breached the Fair Trading Act.

Parts of the case went to the Court of Appeal, which has now largely upheld Justice Brown's rulings. "Our analysis of the origins of the word 'batts' suggests that, at least in New Zealand, the word was not widely used or understood by the general public as a descriptive term and that it did not become a term in general public use until it began to be promoted by Tasman's predecessor after the trade mark was registered in 1973," said Justices Tony Randerson, Christine French and Mark Cooper. "Thereafter, in consequence of the marketing campaigns undertaken, the word 'batts' became strongly associated in the public mind with Tasman's Pink Batts insulation products. We conclude that the judge was correct to find that the term 'batts' had not become a common name in general public use."

The Court of Appeal confirmed that Knauf's use of the word 'batts' on the earthwool.co.nz website did not infringe Tasman's trademark. However, the three judges also found that Justice Brown was right to decide that the Earthwool brand and online marketing were misleading and deceptive. The trio differed with the High Court on one aspect; on whether Knauf's use of the word 'Batt' in the website's code infringed Tasman's trademark. It is understood this was at issue because the website showed in internet searches for 'batts.' While the High Court believed the use of the code did infringe the trademark, the three appeal judges said that this was wrong.

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.

US: Insulation installer Installed Building Products, Inc. has acquired North Carolina's BioFoam, an installer of spray foam insulation to residential customers. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Installed Building Products said that the acquisition further expands its presence in the strong North Carolina housing market.

Denmark: Rockwool has appointed Mirella Vitale as the new Senior Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Public Affairs. She currently holds the position of Vice President of Global Marketing and Market Intelligence at Vestas. Vitale will assume her new position by 1 March 2016.

US: Distribution International Inc, a leading distributor and fabricator in the mechanical insulation market, has acquired Washington-based E.J. Bartells, a supplier of mechanical and industrial insulation, fabrication, refractory and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) products throughout the Pacific Northwest and Western states.

"With the acquisition of E.J. Bartells, we have significantly expanded our North American, coast-to-coast footprint into Alaska, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah and Washington with the addition of the premier insulation distributor in the Pacific Northwest," said Celeste Mastin, CEO of Distribution International.

"Providing the best solutions to our customers has always been the focus at E.J. Bartells. The additional products and resources that will be available to our customers through DI will allow us to be even more competitive in meeting our customers' needs," said Brian Farnsworth, President of E.J. Bartells.

UK/Germany: UK-based private equity firm Charterhouse Capital Partners LLP has agreed to divest Armacell International SA in a deal that values the German insulation materials firm at Euro960m, according to Reuters. Charterhouse, which paid Euro520m for Armacell in 2013, will sell it to private equity funds managed by US Blackstone Group LP. The transaction is scheduled to close in the first quarter of 2016. Armacell reported net sales of Euro452m in 2014.