Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

Germany: Saint-Gobain has appointed Danijel Lučić as the head of sales for its Germany-based subsidiaries Saint-Gobain Isover G+H and Rigips. He succeeds Dirk Borgmann, who has decided to leave the company. Lučić will take up his new positions from July 2022.

Lučić has worked for nearly 30 years with Saint-Gobain Group with much of it in the insulation sector. This has included roles with Saint-Gobain HES and Superglass Dämmstoffe.

Russia: URSA Eurasia has appointed Alexander Trubitsyn as its general director for the production of thermal insulation materials. Previously he held the position of the Director of Production and Logistics at the company. Trubitsyn succeeds Denis Shvydkoi in the post. Shvydkoi will manage international projects for URSA Group, based at the company's head office.

Ukraine: Ireland-based Kingspan plans to spend Euro200m towards building a ‘Building Technology Campus’ in Ukraine. The site will be used to manufacture insulation and district heating products. Development of the project is due to start immediately with eventually commissioning forecast for 2027. The insulation company has appointed a project team to identify a suitable site, likely to be in the west of the country, and is liaising with the Ukrainian Government. Over 600 jobs are expected to be created when the site opens.

Gene Murtagh, the chief executive officer of Kingspan Group, said “This investment sits at the crossroads of three crises: the climate crisis, the energy security crisis, and the crisis caused by the Russian war against Ukraine. The new Building Technology Campus we are planning will make positive contributions on all three fronts, supporting Ukraine as it rebuilds its economy, meeting demand across central and Eastern Europe for energy efficient buildings, and helping Europe to reduce reliance on oil and gas imports.”

Kingspan previously said it had exited the Russian market and divested its operations to local management in April 2022 following a decision made in March 2022.

Russia: Denmark-based Rockwool says that it is running its four plants in Russia as a standalone operation. However, it is continuing conducting business to avoid the nationalisation of its assets and the loss of its intellectual property. The insulation producer previously said that it had cancelled all investments in the country since the start of the war in Ukraine.

UK: Norway-based BEWI has acquired an additional 51% stake in Jablite Group for around Euro12m making it the sole owner. It previously purchased a 49% stake in the expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation products producer and civil engineering provider in June 2020. At the time Jablite initiated a restructuring programme due the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic and resulting lockdowns. As part of the programme it also closed two of its facilities.

The current management of Jablite, including managing director Richard Lee and finance director John Cooper, will continue in their roles going forward. Rik Dobbelaere, a previous chief executive officer (CEO) of Synbra Holding and BEWi Synbra Group, and director of the board of BEWI ASA, has been director of the board of Jablite since BEWI’s acquisition of the 49% stake in 2020.

“We are very pleased to now be able to include Jablite fully to our team. The company has shown an impressive development the last two years, and we look forward to further strengthen our market position in the UK together going forward,” said Christian Bekken, CEO of BEWI. He added that Jablite’s operations would complement the UK-based operations of Jackon well and that synergies were expected by combining the two companies once the acquisition Jackon transaction is completed. BEWI started to buy the Norway-based supplier of insulation and construction systems in late 2021.

BEWI is an international provider of packaging, components and insulation products.

Spain: Etex has completed its acquisition of extruded polystyrene (XPS) and glass wool insulation producer URSA from Xella Group. URSA operates 13 plants and employs 1700 people.

Xella CEO Christophe Clemente said “With this portfolio simplification, Xella takes an important step, to focus its resources on the development of building materials solutions. With our complementary product types, autoclaved aerated concrete and calcium silicate products, we aim to strengthen our position as a leading European supplier of masonry solutions. I warmly thank the URSA teams for their achievements during the successful past years within Xella Group and wish them a bright future with Etex.”

Belgium: The government has reduced value-added tax (VAT) on insulation to 6% from 21%. The measure aims to reduce national natural gas consumption in order to be prepared for any future shortage. Belgium is 6% reliant on Russia for its gas supply. Utilities companies supplying the Benelux region have declined to settle their bills with Russia-based producer Gazprom in Russian Rubles, so face a shut-off. Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten said that the Port of Zeebrugge was ready to begin imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US and elsewhere.

Van der Straete called on Belgians to ‘Insulate your homes, isolate Putin.’

US: Knauf Insulation has won a contract to recycle waste glass bottles from the NTT IndyCar Series Big Machine Music City Grand Prix in Nashville, Tennessee, on 5 – 7 August 2022.

Knauf Insulation’s vice president of sustainability and health, safety and environment Chris Mahin said "These types of unique recycling opportunities are valuable for Knauf as we continue to seek alternative sources for glass – the main ingredient in our high quality glass wool insulation.”

US: The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and Allergy Standards Limited (ASL) have certified Knauf Insulation’s Fiberglass Acoustic Panel glass wool insulation panel as Asthma and Allergy Friendly. The certification attests the product’s ability to limit pollutant and allergen exposure in the indoor environment.

Knauf Insulation’s senior vice president of customer experience, innovation, and sales Nathan Walker said “This Asthma and Allergy Friendly certification is evidence of Knauf’s commitment to providing high quality products that can improve indoor air quality and help create healthier home environments.”

US: Knauf Insulation is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the beginning of operations at its Shasta Lake glass wool insulation plant in California. Local press has reported that the company increased its capacity by 70% over the past two decades. Today, the Shasta Lake plant employs 156 people. It has implemented sustainable practices in its production, including the use of ECOSE Technology plant-based binders in the place of petrochemical alternatives. It also recycles 600,000 glass bottles daily, constituting 50% of its glass consumption. This presented the plant with difficulties when Covid-19 lockdowns reduced local waste glass generation.