Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

US: According to Recycling Today, American Fiber Green Products Inc (AFBG), based in Tampa, Florida and Owens Corning, a Toledo, Ohio-based developer and manufacturer of insulation, roofing and fibreglass composites, have entered into a five-year agreement for recycling services. The deal calls for AFBG to recycle the fibreglass-related material generated at Owens Corning's Amarillo, Texas plant, which is currently being landfilled.

"The recycling plan in Amarillo represents continued progress toward Owens Corning's 2020 environmental footprint goals," said Doug Pontsler, Owens Corning's vice president of environment, health and safety and operations sustainability. "Concurrent with our progress to reduce waste generation, we've made securing more reliable recycling for fibreglass waste a top priority. The solution from American Fiber Green Products, which will convert our waste into useful, marketable products, will help us achieve our sustainability goals."

"AFBG is excited to provide recycling services to this market leader through our Amour Fiber Core subsidiary," said AFBG Chairman Kenneth McCleave. "This contract has been in negotiation for over a year and a half and will substantially boost revenue for AFBG. The project will commence upon completion of construction of our recycling and manufacturing facility in the Amarillo area. Construction is expected to take about 12 months. We expect a successful recycling program in Amarillo to be the catalyst to an expanded relationship between our firms and potentially include other Owens Corning facilities around the country."

US: Owens Corning's consolidated net sales for the first quarter of 2015 have fallen to US$1.21bn year-on-year from US$1.28bn in the same period in 2014. Adjusted earnings fell by US$13 to US$22m for the same period. The results was attributed to a weak roofing business.

"Owens Corning had a good start to 2015. Insulation continues to benefit from growth in US housing starts. Results in Composites reflect strong execution and operational performance. In Roofing, first quarter revenues and margins were weak. However, the Roofing business did not experience the discounting and inventory build in the channel that we saw in the same quarter last year, positioning the business to deliver higher volumes for the remainder of the year," said chairman and chief executive officer Mike Thaman.

To support growth in the North American mineral wool insulation business, the company's board of directors has approved a US$90m investment in a new mineral wool plant, to be operational in late 2016.

For its outlook the US based insulation, roofing and composites manufacturer said that it continues to expect to benefit in 2015 from sustained improvement in the US housing market and moderate global growth. Insulation should continue to benefit from growth in US residential new construction, improved pricing and operating leverage. Composites and roofing businesses are also expected to improve or remain stable respectively.

US: Alan Dibble Booth, a long-time Owens Corning executive, died on 18 February 2015 in Casa de la Luz Hospice, Tucson. He was 71. Booth, who had lived nearly year-round in Tuscon, died from complications of lung cancer, according to his daughter, Katie Booth.

Booth was employed by Owens Corning in Toledo for 31 years, starting as a sales trainee in 1967 and worked his way through the ranks to vice president of marketing and sales in manufacturer and mechanical products in 1986. He retired as head of the insulation division for North America.

US: The Owens Corning Foundation will donate US$1.1m in cash and gifts-in-kind to Habitat for Humanity International over three years. The partnership will support house construction and revitalisation projects nationwide.

The Owens Corning Foundation has donated US$200,000 for 2015 and pledged US$200,000/yr for 2016 and 2017. Additionally, Owens Corning anticipates gift-in-kind donations of US$500,000 over the three years. These gifts include insulation and roofing products to support Habitat's affordable housing efforts.

"One of the most important benefits of community investment is the positive impact it has on our employees and the communities where they live and work," said Don Rettig, president of the Owens Corning Foundation. "Habitat is an ideal partner for Owens Corning. We provide financial support, donate building materials and encourage employee volunteerism. What's more, Habitat has a presence in nearly every Owens Corning location across the US and Canada."

During 2015 - 2017, Owens Corning will also contribute and install science-supported insulating systems and its Total Protection Roofing System™. These systems are designed to improve the thermal, air and moisture performance in the building envelope of Habitat homes, as well as help protect them from harsh weather conditions.

"We are grateful for Owens Corning's commitment to Habitat for Humanity," said Colleen Finn Ridenhour, deputy director of Corporate, Foundation and Institution Relations for Habitat for Humanity International. "Their support will enable us to help more families have access to safe, decent, affordable homes where they can create a brighter future."

Cash and gifts-in-kind from the Owens Corning Foundation and the company itself totalled more than US$1m in 2012 – 2014. The gifts-in-kind insulated and/or roofed more than 1100 homes. Owens Corning employees participated in more than 30 Habitat builds across the United States and Canada during this period. Owens Corning has supported Habitat for Humanity since 1997.

US: Owens Corning Insulating Systems LLC has announced plans to produce fibreglass insulation with an all-service jacket for Aquatherm metric-sized polypropylene-random (PP-R) piping systems as part of an exclusive agreement with Aquatherm North America.

US: Owens Corning, a producer of fibreglass reinforcements for composite systems, is building a new advanced technology facility in Gastonia, North Carolina, that will help meet demand for bio-based products. The new, state-of-the-art equipment will add manufacturing flexibility to produce different widths of the company's new Sustaina® non-woven fibreglass fabric. This will enable more customers to use the product in their applications.

Sustaina surfacing and reinforcing glass non-wovens were introduced to the European market in June 2013. The Sustaina solution uses a bio-based binder system with high tensile strength performance and does not contain any formaldehyde. The new plant will be able to produce 4m widths of Sustaina fabric, rather than the narrower width currently produced on existing assets.

"Building a new site is a great opportunity for us to install the newest, most advanced manufacturing technology," said Steven Vermeulen, vice president and managing director, Engineered Solutions. "The line is designed to facilitate the highest level of quality and efficiency and the flexibility to produce the wider veil will help us to get better yields and reduce waste." Sustaina fabric is designed for use in residential and commercial building applications, like cushion vinyl flooring, ceiling backings and insulation facers. 

US: For the fifth year in a row Owens Corning has earned placement in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) in recognition of its sustainability initiatives.

For the second straight year, Owens Corning was named the Industry Leader for the DJSI World Building Products group.

"We are proud to have earned a place on this list again this year," said chairman and CEO Mike Thaman. "Our employees are working every day to make homes more energy-efficient, roofs more durable and weather-resistant, cars more fuel efficient and renewable energy more cost effective. Our sustainability strategy is realised every day at Owens Corning, through the products we produce and the way we produce them."

Composed of global sustainability leaders, the DJSI World Index is a listing of the world's largest companies based on long-term economic, environmental and social criteria. The DJSI follow a best-in-class approach, including companies across all industries that outperform their peers in numerous sustainability metrics.

US: Owens Corning has reported second quarter 2014 profits of US$21m, down from US$49m in 2013. Its net sales were US$1.36bn, up slightly from US$1.35bn in 2013. Chairman and CEO Mike Thaman said that the insulation and composites business units met expectations for the first half of 2014, offsetting weaker financial performance in its roofing division.

UK: Owens Corning, which operates an insulation plant in Selkirk, Scotland, plans to begin using a nearby warehouse within the next three months. The company is consolidating three smaller warehouses within 30km radius of the Selkirk insulation plant into the new West Yard Road warehouse, which will be operated by a third-party logistics company. The warehouse will employ about 20 people.

"It will simplify logistics and result in stronger service for our customers," said Chuck Hartlage, Owens Corning's spokesperson. "We will do this with an improved cost structure."

US: Owens Corning has lowered its full-year 2014 earnings outlook because of continued weakness in its roofing business. In its first quarter 2014 earnings release, the company stated that it expected US$500m in adjusted earnings before income tax for the whole of 2014, but added that weakness in the roofing business added risk to the financial outlook.

The weakness continued through April - May 2014 and the company now estimates that roofing volumes for the first half of 2014 may be 20% lower than during the first half of 2013. Owens Corning expects to recover a portion of the shortfall during the second half of 2014 and has projected that full-year 2014 adjusted earnings before income tax will be greater than 2013's US$416m.

According to Owens Corning, the insulation and composites market continues to show improvement compared with 2013. Earnings growth in those two areas is expected to more than offset the poor roofing performance.

Insulation sales increased from US$330m in the first quarter of 2013 to US$355m in 2014. The company's first quarter 2014 results reported insulation sales grew by almost 8% compared with 2013, following 11 consecutive quarters of improved earnings in the insulation business.