Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

Germany: Chemicals company BASF says that it has completed the sale of its Styrodur extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation business to Karl Bachl Kunststoffverarbeitung.

BASF says that it will continue to produce expandable polystyrene under its Neopor and Styropor brands. It aims to increase the production capacity of its Ludwigshafen expandable polystyrene plant in Rhineland-Palatinate by 200% to 250,000t/yr in early 2027.

Hungary: Masterplast and Poland-based Selena FM have restarted the 19,000t/yr Szerencs glass wool insulation plant, with a view to resuming full-scale production later in 2025. Bne IntelliNews has reported that the partners invested €47.5m in the project, including €14m in funding from the Hungarian government. When fully operational, the plant will supply glass wool insulation for the domestic and Central and Eastern European markets.

Russia: TechnoNICOL has begun construction of a US$25.5m stone wool plant in Ryazan Oblast, AK&M News has reported. The plant will produce 230,000t/yr of stone wool briquettes from mine tailings. When operational in April 2026, it will increase the company’s stone wool production capacity by 40%.

Finland: Saint-Gobain Isover has commenced production at its upgraded Forssa glass wool insulation plant in Kanta-Häme. Financial Wire News has reported that production is powered by a 50:50 energy mix of biogas and hydroelectricity. The producer says that this will reduce the Forssa plant's CO₂ emissions by 1500t/yr.

Saint-Gobain Isover is Finland’s largest consumer of recycled glass, of which the Forssa plant uses 80% in its raw materials mix.

UK: Wull Technologies has secured funding to scale production of its LAMDA sheep’s wool-based insulation panels. The company will produce the panels at its Manchester plant, using wool from sheep in Wales. Farming UK News has reported that the insulation is both recyclable and biodegradable. It matches the thermal and acoustic performance of mineral wool, but with increased moisture management ability.

The University of Manchester's Innovation Factory and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority supplies the latest funding, bringing the total received by the company to €597,000.

Technical Director Liam Britnell said "We set out to use materials science to open up new markets for this abundant and underutilised material. Rigid panel insulation is widely used and preferred across the construction sector because it is easy to handle, install and cut to shape."

UK: France-based Saint-Gobain says that it will build a stone wool insulation plant in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, at the site of the former Holwell foundry. The plant will use electrical heat and be powered by renewable sources. When operational in 2027, it will have a capacity of 50,000t/yr and employ 250 people.

UK: Knauf Insulation plans to build a €202m, 100,000t/yr stone wool insulation plant in Shotton, Flintshire. The new Shotton plant will produce reduced-CO₂ insulation using a submerged arc furnace (SAF). It will be Knauf Insulation’s second in North Wales, along with its existing Queensferry stone wool insulation plant, also in Flintshire. The company’s other UK plants are in Cwmbrân, Gwent, and St Helens, Merseyside.

Managing director of Knauf Insulation Northern Europe Neil Hargreaves said "This project aligns with the Welsh and UK governments’ commitments to sustainability and the industrial vision for North Wales and Deeside. Using UK-first SAF technology, the new factory will support the need for safer, more energy efficient and sustainable buildings."

The new Shotton plant accords with the UK government’s €190m plans for a Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone, centred on ‘advanced manufacturing’ and intended to attract €1.19bn of private investments.

Romania: Belgium-based Metigla plans to invest €15m in an automation upgrade and expansion to its Ceptura, Prahova, plant, which produces insulated metal roofing systems. Romania-Insider News has reported that the plant produces its own mineral wool insulation panels, along with other components for its roofing systems.

CEO Olivier Somers said the company prioritises long-term growth through local production and innovation. Metigla recorded sales of €27.5m in 2024, approximately €4.13m (15%) of which was through exports. Somers added "Romania remains our centre of gravity, and the Ceptura factory is a clear expression of how local excellence can have an international impact.”

Romania: Alpin Szig és Szerkezet Építőipari subsidiary Mineral Insulation plans to build a €20m, 30,000t/yr-capacity mineral wool plant in Miercurea-Ciuc, Harghita County. Romania-Insider News has reported that construction will commence in mid-2025, with the plant scheduled to enter production in late 2026. The upcoming plant will occupy a former mining site, chosen for its proximity to sources of all required raw materials within 100km, as well as for its centrality in Romania. It is expected to create 70 new jobs.

Director Orban Zoltan said that the plant should enable Harghita County to become mineral wool self-sufficient.

Russia: TechnoNICOL says that it will build a US$61.3m stone wool plant in the Krasnosulinsky Industrial Park in Rostov Oblast, scheduled for commissioning by late 2026. Interfax-Russia News has reported that the plant will include a 20MW power plant and new warehouses, situated on a 25ha site next to the company’s existing plant in the industrial park. Preparatory work is complete for the commencement of construction in May 2025.