Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

Germany: Declare has certified Knauf Insulation’s Supafil blowing wool insulation ‘Red List Free’. The declaration signifies that Supafil contains no Red-Listed chemicals designated as harmful to health by the International Living Future Institute. Knauf Insulation Blowing Wool business development & residential market manager Thomas Baguette said, “Our Declare label underlines the natural credentials of our blowing wool. Supafil is composed of 99% glass mineral wool and less than 1% of antidust and antistatic.”

US: Germany-based Knauf Insulation has launched an appeal against the decision of a Californian court in a civil dispute over staff pay. The claimants allege that Knauf Insulation has failed to pay overtime wages, meal and rest period premiums and minimum wages. Knauf was also accused of failing to maintain records to provide accurate wage statements. Class Action reporter has reported that case will pass to the US Court of Appeals.

Germany: Knauf Insulation has announced the 11 winners of its Leadership Awards at its Leadership Conference 2020 on 6 February in Iphofen, Bavaria. Winners came from Knauf’s sales, customer service, human resources, retail and finance divisions across all its operating regions. Knauf Insulation Group human resources director Patrice Briol said, “Our award-winners demonstrate leadership qualities and live the Knauf Values every day.”

France: Knauf Insulation entered production at its new 0.1Mt/yr mineral wool plant in Illange on 22 October 2019. Knauf Western Europe managing director Mark Leverton called the plant, which cost Euro110m and will employ 123 people, a ‘reference plant’ for the group ‘in terms of its approach to the environment and the wellbeing of employees.’ The group reported that 7.5ha has been set aside for a wildflower meadow, with Urbanscape Green Roof installed across plant buildings.

US: Knauf Insulation North America and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) have announced an investment of around US$35m at Knauf’s fibre glass inslation plant at Albion in Michigan. The upgrade is expected to convert and restart an idled production line, increasing production capacity by more than 30% and adding 34 new full-time jobs. It will use recycled bottle glass recovered through the state of Michigan’s Bottle Deposit Law as a raw material. The project is expected to be completed in late 2020.

“Keeping pace with the growing demand in the upper Midwest for quality loose-fill insulation products will be made possible through the expansion of our plant here in Albion,” said Kevin Keen, plant manager at Albion.

The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) has approved a US$200,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant in support of the project. The MSF also approved a 100%, 15-year State Essential Services Act exemption valued at US$780,000.

UK: Knauf Insulation has donated a pallet of its Earthwool Loft Roll 44 glass mineral wool product to the Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre in Dorset. Pavilions housing primates at the site are being upgraded and expanded. They required adequate insulation to ensure a habitable environmental for the animals. The insulation was transported to Monkey World free of charge by builders’ merchants Bradford’s Building Supplies, Blandford, Dorset.

“We were delighted to support Monkey World in their vital work. Earthwool Loft Roll is a high performance glass mineral wool insulation, providing excellent thermal performance, which will help to keep the Pavilions warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather,” said Ian Boland, Area Sales Manager (South West) at Knauf Insulation.

Belgium: Knauf Insulation plans to install 6000 photovoltaic panels at its Visé mineral wool plant. These will provide 1700MWhr/yr to the unit. The announcement was made at the opening of Knauf Insulation’s Experience Centre in Visé. The centre is intended to act as a knowledge base for best practice and sustainability.

US: Knauf Insulation has won a 2019 Greenbuild Leadership Award for outstanding contributions to sustainable building by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). The insulation producer was recognised for providing innovative solutions that both reduce energy consumption and save resources. The USGBC said that Knauf set an ‘outstanding’ example for the international green construction industry through its commitment to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and other green building practices and its corporate social responsibility commitment.

“Knauf Insulation serves as a model for the international community. Your commitment to corporate social responsibility and improving the quality of life is an inspiration," said Mahesh Ramanujamm, the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of USGBC and Green Business Certification.

The award was received on behalf of Knauf Insulation by its Sustainability and Product Regulatory Affairs Director Vincent Briard at Greenbuild Europe, an annual USGBC forum for sustainable building experts held in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

UK: Knauf Insulation’s Earthwool RainScreen Slab product has been certified by the British Board of Agrément (BBA) for use in high-rise residential applications. The BBA certification follows the December 2018 update to Approved Document B, which mandates the use of non-combustible materials achieving a Euroclass Reaction to Fire Classification of A1 or A2 s1-d0 in the external walls of certain buildings over 18m in height.

“Non-combustible insulation is the best choice for architects, specifiers and contractors as it will not contribute to the development or spread of fire” said Steve Smith, Head of Product Management and Business Intelligence at Knauf Insulation.

UK: Knauf Insulation has appointed Neil Hargreaves as its new managing director for the Northern Europe region. He will be responsible for strengthening the company’s position in the mineral wool insulation industry. Hargreaves was previously the finance director of the company. He succeeds John Sinfield, who is leaving to pursue another opportunity outside the company.