Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

US: Huntsman Corporation has started commercial operation of a new US$180m methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) splitter at its Geismar plant in Louisiana. The new splitter will allow the chemical manufacturer to produce more grades of MDI than previously. Company president and chief executive officer Peter Huntsman attended an inaugural event as well as the Jeff Landry, the Attorney General of Louisiana.

“The new splitter reinforces our strategy of delivering value over volume by creating a more differentiated product portfolio,” said Tony Hankins, president of Huntsman’s Polyurethanes division. “It enables us to provide our customers in automotive, furniture, construction, adhesives and coatings markets with more options for innovative, sustainable polyurethanes products.”

Huntsman produces a range of chemicals including polyisocyanurate (PIR) and polyurethane (PUR) building insulation products.

US: Germany’s BASF plans to start building a methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) synthesis unit at its Verbund plant in Geismar, Louisiana in the second quarter of 2018. Planning and engineering for the new unit started in 2016 and were recently completed. The upgrade is expected to double the company’s MDI production capacity to nearly 0.6Mt/yr from 0.3Mt/yr. The investment is planned to support the growth of BASF’s North American business.

US: China’s Wanhua Chemical plans to build a US$1.1bn methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) plant in Louisiana. The chemical producer has not revealed where it intends to build the plant, what size it will be or when it plans to start construction, according to local media. It expects to choose a site later in 2017. Wanhua Chemical will contribute about US$950m towards the project and US$170m will come from an unnamed partner.

Wanhua Chemical operates two MDI plants in China. In 2011 it spent US$1.7bn when it purchased BorsodChem, a Hungarian polyurethanes manufacturer. Louisiana state officials have reportedly been discussing the project with Wanhua since 2013.

US: Installed Building Products has acquired Southern Insulators & Specialties, a fibreglass and spray foam insulation installer based in Covington, Louisiana. No value for the purchase was released.

"Southern has a large presence in the state of Louisiana with trailing-12 month revenues of approximately US$5m," said Jeff Edwards, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He added that Installed Building Products has completed six acquisitions, representing nearly US$53m of annual revenue, since the start of 2016.