Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

US: Johns Manville (JM), a Berkshire Hathaway company, has announced that it will increase its glass microfibre capacity by early 2016 at its plant in Waterville, Ohio.

"We have initiated several productivity projects and line modifications that will noticeably increase our microfibre capacity," said Martin Kleinebrecht, marketing and portfolio management leader for JM Engineered Products. "We continue to experience a strong global demand for glass microfibre and we fully expect this trend to continue over the next several years." Kleinebrecht added that JM is exploring a number of additional investments in its glass microfibre business and plans to announce more details in the near future.

JM has maintained a large presence in Waterville since 1958. In addition to glass microfibre, JM manufacturers a variety of premium-quality products at this location, including wet and dry chop glass fibres, single-end rovings and nonwoven fibreglass mat. These materials are used in roofing, gypsum wallboard and specialty applications, as well as in plastic reinforcement and weaving. Glass microfibre products are widely used in filtration and advanced lead-acid battery applications.