Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

Hungary: Masterplast has unveiled a new strategy for increasing internal flexibility and reducing exposure to an ‘extremely unpredictable’ global economic environment. MTI – EcoNews has reported that the producer will no longer publish numerical financial forecasts. It will additionally focus on inventory and cash-flow management and monitoring market feedback. Preparation is underway for ‘multiple scenarios,’ including slow, moderate and rapid global economic growth.

Masterplast expects to commence operations at its upcoming Szerencs glass wool plant in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county in mid-2025.

UK/Ireland: UK-based Energystore has launched Spacebead, an expanded polystyrene (EPS) bead injected insulation containing aerogel and adhesive, on the UK and Irish markets. The Spacebead offers thermal conductivity of 0.029W/mK and is especially suited to use in limited cavity space. The producers say that this will help customers in the English market to easily conform to the upcoming Future Homes Standard for energy efficiency of new buildings there.

Russia: The mineral wool market consumed ‘record’ volumes of imports in the first quarter of 2025, market research by ROIF Expert has revealed. Uzbek mineral wool has replaced that from Poland and Lithuania as dominant among imports. The Russia-based agency has reported that domestically-produced mineral wool rose in price amid on-going ‘adjustments’ in production volumes.

Türkiye: The Turkish government has introduced new rules for thermal insulation of residential buildings. Fakti News has reported that the newly enacted standard TS 825 will require new homes to be designed to meet both ‘heating and cooling’ needs. This is intended to keep housing operating efficiently under increasingly extreme seasonal climactic conditions.

Property industry body IS & Partners reportedly said that the rules “Will lead to an increase in the cost of projects, and hence to an increase in the prices of purchasing or renting a home” by as much as 25%. It may additionally increase consumer interest in the ‘secondary’ market in existing homes, IS & Partners added.

Ukraine: Horticulture company Green Wave Organic has developed a new peat-based substrate to replace mineral wool in vertical horticulture at its facilities in Zolochiv, Lviv Oblast. New Voices of Ukraine News has reported that Green Wave Organic recently received a €15,000 EU4Business grant from the EU.

Compliance officer Ivan Fryz emphasised the need to continue to innovate under challenging circumstances, with electricity prices double their April 2024 levels.

Romania: Alpin Szig és Szerkezet Építőipari subsidiary Mineral Insulation plans to build a €20m, 30,000t/yr-capacity mineral wool plant in Miercurea-Ciuc, Harghita County. Romania-Insider News has reported that construction will commence in mid-2025, with the plant scheduled to enter production in late 2026. The upcoming plant will occupy a former mining site, chosen for its proximity to sources of all required raw materials within 100km, as well as for its centrality in Romania. It is expected to create 70 new jobs.

Director Orban Zoltan said that the plant should enable Harghita County to become mineral wool self-sufficient.

Russia: TechnoNICOL says that it will build a US$61.3m stone wool plant in the Krasnosulinsky Industrial Park in Rostov Oblast, scheduled for commissioning by late 2026. Interfax-Russia News has reported that the plant will include a 20MW power plant and new warehouses, situated on a 25ha site next to the company’s existing plant in the industrial park. Preparatory work is complete for the commencement of construction in May 2025.

Russia: TechnoNICOL plans to build a machine-building workshop in Ryazan to supply equipment for mineral wool production, according to Russian government sources.

The company said that is currently replacing some ‘European-made’ equipment with prototypes produced in China and Türkiye. It invested US$392m in its ‘fixed assets’ in 2024.

Spain: Bank BBVA has signed an agreement with property management company General Council of Associations of Property Administrators to provide loans for 100% of the cost of energy efficiency renovations in its residential buildings. The agreement also covers loans for accessibility upgrades. Diario de Ávila News has reported that financial products available under the agreement include the Homeowners’ Associations Loan, which covers the costs of construction and materials, including insulation.

Poland: Belgium-based Unilin has announced plans to build an 8Mm²/yr polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation board plant in Leśnica. The €40m project is scheduled to become operational in late 2026. The unit is intended to target markets in Poland, eastern Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. It is expected to create 40 new jobs.