Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

US/UK/Germany: US-based RPM International Inc has announced that its German tremco illbruck Group has acquired Firetherm Intumescent & Insulation Supplies Ltd, the UK market leader in fire-stopping solutions for the construction industry. Based in Kent, England, Firetherm has annual net sales of approximately Euro6.61m. Terms of the transaction, which is expected to be accretive to earnings within one year, were not disclosed.

Firetherm manufactures and supplies a broad range of fire-stopping products, intumescent coatings and fire-rated sealants and fibreboards. They are primarily sold to specialist fire-stopping contractors, general contractors and home-builders.

"Firetherm, with its high degree of fire-stopping technical expertise, is a good strategic fit with our tremco illbruck Group and its existing Nullifire intumescent coatings business. The acquisition expands tremco illbruck's product range and capabilities for fire-stopping products and propels it to the leading position for passive fire protection in the UK," said Frank C Sullivan, RPM chairman and CEO. "We expect to grow Firetherm in the UK and internationally by leveraging its products across the tremco illbruck distribution network."

Germany: HASIT Trockenmörtel GmbH's Fixit 222 Aerogel product, a Cabot Aeorgel-containing insulating plaster material, was recently recognised as one of the most innovative products exhibited at the BAU 2015, a trade fair for architecture, construction materials and systems.

"We are seeing a rise in interest in insulative aerogel coatings and plasters due to increased focus on environmental, energy-efficiency and safety requirements," said Milto Vlachos, general manager of Cabot Aerogel. "We believe that our Aerogel can help customers to reduce energy costs and lower carbon footprints in buildings around the world. Through our technical collaboration with HASIT, we have developed a product that helps customers apply insulation on all types of buildings, including historic façades. It also delivers superior performance compared to similar products on the market today."

The HASIT Fixit 222 Aerogel was recognised for the role that the material can play in reducing the energy consumption of buildings. The material, which is a combination of Cabot's highly-insulating Aerogel and hydraulic lime plaster, has a low thermal conductivity that provides insulation three to four times more effective than conventional insulating plaster. The material meets fire safety and flammability requirements without using environmentally-hazardous flame retardants. It can be prepared and applied manually or with conventional application machines for both indoor and outdoor areas.

Fixit 222 Aerogel can be used for façades worth preserving or with historic building status. The material allows planners, architects and builders the aesthetic and performance advantages of mineral plaster, while setting new standards for both internal and external insulation. It has been used in the Swiss market since 2013 and HASIT began selling Fixit 222 to the German markets in 2014.

Germany: Kaibel & Sieber, one of the international leaders in machinery and plant engineering for the insulation materials industry, is celebrating its 200th anniversary. The company has a long-standing reputation for technical competence and flexibility. Kaibel & Sieber provides a one-stop source for project development and design, manufacturing, installation including automation, maintenance and service as well as supply of spare parts.

Germany: Germany's BASF has switched its entire polystyrene-based insulation product portfolio for the European market to the new polymeric flame retardant (PolyFR). The change comes nine months ahead of the deadline laid out in the REACH regulation, which forbids the use of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) as a flame retardant as of 21 August 2015. This means BASF's 'Styropor' and 'Neopor' Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) and its 'Styrodur' extruded polystyrene (XPS) are only available with PolyFR from now on.

"By switching to PolyFR we can guarantee the supply of eco-efficient thermal insulation products for sustainable building projects in the future," said Giorgio Greening of the group's Styrenic Foams business unit. Using PolyFR allows producers to manufacture insulation materials that meet Class E under European standards.

To meet rising global demand for PolyFR, which has a better environmental profile than HBCD, a number of producers have set up new production plants, including the recent announcement by Albemarle and Israel Chemicals (ICL) to set up a PolyFR joint venture.

Germany: The German cartel office has started a probe into the country's producers of insulating materials due to suspicions of possible prohibited price agreements. A spokesman of the cartel office in Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia revealed that there had already been a large-scale raid with the support of the police in mid-March 2014. The investigators are trying to find out whether the companies held illegal talks concerning prices and sales regions for hard-resistance foam, which is used for insulation in new buildings. 

Germany: Austrian heat insulation specialist Austrotherm GmbH has launched its first production plant in Wittenberg, Saxony-Anhalt. The new 114,000m² plant, which produces its characteristic pink extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam insulation board, was built in 10 months with an investment of Euro40m. The plant specialises in the production of XPS substrate specifically for high-pressure loads and high insulation thickness board. Located midway between Berlin and Hamburg, the site is well placed to supply growing markets in Germany and abroad.

“With the new plant, we are much closer to the market and, by eliminating the long transport routes, it will be faster and more flexible for the customer,” said Austrotherm’s sales and internationalisation executive director Gerald Prinzhorn. “It also allows us to export to northern Europe, Poland and the Benelux countries.” The site location is also set to benefit soon from the construction of the A14 motorway at Wittenberg.

Austrotherm, which also manufactures expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation, operates other XPS production units in Austria, Serbia and Romania. In its 2013 financial year annual sales grew by 2% to Euro250m. 

“The fact that we were able to increase sales last year is due to our international activities, such as the new EPS insulating plant in Izmir, Turkey,” said CEO Peter Schmid. He predicted a further sales rise in 2014 with further exports from the Wittenberg plant.

The company has also invested Euro4m to establish its second insulation material plant in Turgutlu, Turkey. 

Germany: Austria's Austrotherm has inaugurated its first manufacturing base in Wittenberge, Brandenburg, Germany. The new plant for extruded polystyrene (XPS) required a Euro40m investment and will employ 70 people. The production capacity was not disclosed. The Austrotherm Group, which has 18 production units in 11 countries, reported a turnover of Euro250m in 2013.

Germany: Morgan Advanced Materials has announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire insulation manufacturer Porextherm Dämmstoffe GmbH, adding to its broad portfolio of thermal insulation products and solutions. The agreement was entered into by Morgan Deutschland Holding GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Morgan Advanced Materials. Completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval from the German competition authority.

Porextherm had sales of Euro24m in 2013. It manufactures a wide range of WDS® high-temperature insulation and vacuum insulation panel (VIP) products. It specialises in developing insulation products with the lowest possible thermal conductivity that have superior durability and will enhance the Morgan Group's existing high performance insulating systems portfolio.

"The addition of Porextherm to the Morgan Group enhances our existing portfolio of high-performance insulating systems and also gives us the chance to share knowledge and processes which will lead to future product development," said Mark Robertshaw, CEO of Morgan Advanced Materials. "In line with our strategic priorities, the acquisition brings with it the opportunity to explore new markets and expand our range to benefit both new and existing customers."

"We welcome the opportunity to become part of the Morgan Group and the benefits that being part of an international materials technology leader will bring," said Peter Stubner, managing director of Porextherm Dämmstoffe. "There will be a smooth transition for our customers and we look forward to a mutually successful future as part of the Morgan Group."

Germany: Suitors of the German insulation materials maker Armacell GmbH are poised to make second-round offers below the Euro500m price tag sought by its owner, Bahrain's Investcorp, according to Reuters.

The second round deadline was pushed back from 11 March 2013 as private equity firms Charterhouse, Pamplona Capital Management LLP and HgCapital were set to bid closer to Euro500m, according to bankers that spoke to the agency. The lower bids would reflect growth concerns regarding the target, whose sales amounted to Euro448m in 2011. There are even concerns that the deal, which is being handled by Barclays plc, could be cancelled completely if a reasonable valuation cannot be reached.

Germany: BASF, the multinational chemical company, has announced plans to divest its subsidiary BASF Wall Systems GmbH & Co. KG, together with its factory in Marktredwitz. Currently, BASF Wall Systems employees 190 workers.

BASF Wall Systems is a supplier of insulation and finishing systems in the German market. The company's main field of business is systems for the exterior and interior thermal insulation of buildings. In addition, the company offers renovation and restoration systems for historical buildings.

"Our Wall Systems business in Germany posted significant growth over the last few years. Nevertheless, there are only limited synergies with other BASF fields of activity that we can make use of. A new owner will be better able to drive the business," said Dr Tilman Krauch, president of BASF's Construction Chemicals division.