Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

Hungary/Serbia: Building products producer Masterplast and construction company Market Epito have entered into a strategic cooperation agreement to build mineral wool plants in Central Europe to meet anticipated demand for insulation. Plans for a first plant to be built in either Hungary or Serbia could be finalised in the first quarter of 2023. Joint-venture companies will be set-up on a 50:50 basis to support the new plants. As part of the deal, both companies would endeavour to purchase mineral wool from the new production units where possible for Market Epito’s construction projects and Masterplast’s commercial activities. The companies also hope to use public funding to support the building of new plants due to their importance to the national economy.

Germany: Netherlands-based FALK Bouwsystems has agreed to purchase Salzgitter Bauelemente from Salzgitter Group for an undisclosed price. Steel construction element manufacturer Salzgitter Bauelemente will continue to do business as a independent subsidiary with its existing managing director Kai Bohmbach. Under the terms of the acquisition, Salzgitter Bauelemente’s plant in Lower Saxony will continue to be supplied with raw materials from Salzgitter Flachstahl. However, its building and storage area will remain the property of Salzgitter Flachstahl and are leased to the purchaser for a minimum rental period of 10 years, with an option to extend.

FALK Group said, “With the acquisition of Salzgitter Bauelemente, we are pursuing the goal of entering the German market independently. To this end, we will build on the existing know-how and intend to expand the production volume at this location. The investment measures planned by management are also to be continued.”

Salzgitter Bauelemente produces steel construction elements, including sandwich panels made with polyurethane and mineral wool cores. Sandwich panel producer FALK Bouwsystems produces around 5Mm²/yr, about twice that of Salzgitter Bauelemente.

Belarus/Russia: US-based Owens Corning has agreed to sell its Belarusian and Russian assets to materials and technologies company Umatex. Umatex is a subsidiary of Russian state-owned nuclear power provider Rosatom. World Service Wire News has reported that the assets in question include the Gus-Khrustalny glasswool plant in Vladimir Oblast and the Tver mineral wool insulation plant in Tver Oblast, both in Russia.

Owens Corning chair and CEO Brian Chambers said "This announcement represents the final step in our process to fully exit our operations in Russia. I would like to thank our colleagues in Russia for their contributions to our company and customers over the years."

Europe: Dow has announced the European launch of V PLUS Perform Next, a polyurethane (PU) insulation product for use in insulated metal panels. V PLUS Perform Next insulation contains alternative raw materials from circular feedstocks, including bio-based feedstocks. Dow allocates the feedstocks based on a mass balance chain of custody, validated by International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC). It produces V PLUS Perform Next using over 25% renewable energy.

Dow PU construction insulation marketing fellow Alberto Mercati said “The new EU Energy Performance of Buildings directive adds urgency for buildings that require energy efficient insulation with decreased embodied carbon. For the last five years, V PLUS Perform has enabled insulated metal panel manufacturers to deliver building envelopes that couple energy efficiency and fire safety. V PLUS Perform Next supports insulated panel manufacturers to select lower carbon and circular construction ingredients from the design phase to the delivery of a novel class of products for more sustainable buildings.”

Ukraine: Rockwool confirmed on 5 December 2022 that builders used some of its products in rebuilding work in Russian-occupied Mariupol, Donetsk. Rockwool clarified that it did not supply the materials, which it says had been delivered by a third party.

Rockwool's communications manager Michael Zarin said it is 'almost impossible' for the company to control distributors' activities. Zarin said "The company strongly condemns the war in Ukraine and hopes for an early solution."

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.”

UK: Knauf Insulation has concluded a deal to acquire the Pilkington Architectural site next to its glass wool plant in St Helens. The purchase of the seven hectare area is part of a combined Euro46m production capacity expansion project at both the St Helens and Cwmbran plants that was previously announced in April 2022. At the St Helens plant the company plans to use the additional space storage space and better logistics arraignments.

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."

Germany: Knauf Insulation has launched new overwraps on its global insulation product portfolio. The new packaging reduces ink consumption by 70% through its design, featuring a white or off-white base hue and no more than one additional colour. The wraps are designed to maximise ease and efficiency and reduce cost of recycling. This is in line with Knauf Insulation's commitment to recycle over 25% of packaging by 2025. Within the same timeframe, it also aims to reduce its packaging's virgin plastic consumption by 25% and collect over 35% of delivery pallets for repair and reuse or recycling.

Denmark/Russia: The Association of Ukrainians in Denmark has launched a protest outside Rockwool's headquarters in Hedehusene to demonstrate against the company's continuation of activities in Russia via its local subsidiary. Local press has reported that Rockwool allegedly told the Association of Ukrainians in Denmark that divesting the Russian business would allow its profits and future cash flows to remain in Russia.

In October 2022, Rockwool clarified that it remains out of contact with its Russian business and views their relationship as a mere ownership of shares.