Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

Saudi Arabia: SABIC plans to launch a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) dedicated grade of foam HP0824NDF in 2017. The chemical manufacturer says that the new product’s advantages include high viscosity, giving good head pressure for uniform and thicker foam thickness, relatively higher resin density for better mechanical strength, and good compression stress as well as resilience. Production benefits include using various foam production processes such as physical foam extrusion, the chemical cross-linking process, as well as the bun process, resulting in lightweight foams. SABIC add that the new grade also offers benefits for thermal insulation.

SABIC launched LDPE HP2024JDF and HP2024NDF dedicated foam grades for Middle East, African, and Asian markets in 2016 for physical extrusion foam. All three grades were developed at the company’s Foam Innovation Centre.

US: Installed Building Products (IBP) has closed its acquisition of Alpha Insulation and Waterproofing. Alpha Insulation and Waterproofing, based in Atlanta in Georgia, will continue to operate under its existing brand name through an expanding network of nine branches located in Georgia, Florida, Texas, Tennessee and North Carolina. Alpha's focus on commercial insulation, waterproofing, fire stopping and fireproofing will add to IBP’s revenue mix and its commercial construction platform.

"We are excited about closing the Alpha acquisition and are focused on successfully integrating Alpha's operations over the coming months, which we expect will be immediately accretive to earnings," said Jeff Edwards, IBP's chairman and chief executive officer.