Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

Russia: Penoplex has started its eighth insulation materials plant at Novomoskovsk, Russia, at a cost of over Euro11.4m. The plant has a production capacity of up to 0.3Mm² expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulating foam. The company produces about 2.5Mm²/yr of thermal insulation material. It manufactures extruded materials, such as products for heat insulation and water-proofing, The Russian-based insulation producer has a total of 50 distributors across Russia.

US: With the housing market bottoming out and showing signs of recovery, demand for flame retardants will also begin to improve, according to a report from Global Information Inc.

It says that demand for flame retardants in the US is expected to grow by 4.6%/yr year to reach around US$1.5bn in 2016, a significant rebound as the industry benefits from an improving economy and a turnaround in key markets.

Global Information says that construction-related applications of flame-retardants will provide the biggest impetus to growth and continue to account for the greatest share of sales in the market for flame retardants. Boron and phosphorus-based flame retardants will expand at the fastest rates. Brominated compounds will benefit from use in polystyrene and polyurethane insulation.