Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

UK: Around 24t of insulation material was damaged in an overnight after a fire at Knauf Insulation factory in Croesyceiliog, Wales. Three crews of firefighters were called to the fire at 01:22. A spokeswoman for the fire service said the blaze was accidentally caused. The firefighters had put the fire out by 03:31.

UK/Germany: UK-based private equity firm Charterhouse Capital Partners LLP has agreed to divest Armacell International SA in a deal that values the German insulation materials firm at Euro960m, according to Reuters. Charterhouse, which paid Euro520m for Armacell in 2013, will sell it to private equity funds managed by US Blackstone Group LP. The transaction is scheduled to close in the first quarter of 2016. Armacell reported net sales of Euro452m in 2014.

UK: Superglass has reported a growing loss before taxation of Euro13.4m for its 2015 financial year that ended in 31 August 2015. Alongside this a fall in revenue of 11% year-on-year to Euro29.8m was noted. The drop was blamed on a planned reduction in Eastern European exports and a further deterioration in activity from government-sponsored schemes.

The UK-based glass wool manufacturer also confirmed Mark Cubitt as its chairman on a permanent basis. Cubitt was appointed interim chairman on 19 June 2015 following the resignation of John Colley.

UK: Insulation specialist Celotex is set to launch its 'Insulating Scotland' campaign on 28 September 2015 when the company's custom designed campervan begins a Scotland roadshow.

Aiming to educate architects, contractors and their distribution partners to simplify their route to regulatory compliance, the 'Insulating Scotland' campaign will see Celotex travel around Scotland to deliver a series of technical clinics.

"Our 'Insulating Scotland' campaign will ensure that industry professionals across Scotland can easily access all they need to know about the new Section 6 Building Regulations," said Paul Evans, head of marketing at Celotex. "With further reductions in CO₂ emissions required for Scotland, Celotex product and service solutions will continue to help simplify compliance to these new levels."

The two-week roadshow will see the Celotex team travelling to a number of locations across Scotland. To minimise the environmental impact, Celotex has implemented a series of initiatives to offset more CO₂ emissions than released, ensuring the campervan tour is carbon positive.

UK: Energy efficiency products group entu UK has reported a fall in its interim pre-tax profit amid weakness in insulation and solar power products, but said that it is on target to meet full year expectations, according to Dow Jones. Pre-tax profit for the six months fell to Euro5.42m from Euro7.99m in the same period of 2014, as revenues fell to Euro75.5m from Euro80m.

UK: Industry leaders have attacked the EU's decision to outlaw Britain's reduced 5% VAT rate on energy-saving products such as insulation and solar panels, calling it 'perverse' and 'hypocritical.'

The European Court of Justice recently ruled that Britain's longstanding reduced rate on the supply and installation of energy-saving products breached its VAT directive, which allows a reduced rate only in energy-saving products used in social housing projects, or as part of a social policy. It means millions of households could now have to pay the 20% rate when installing insulation, solar panels, wind turbines, controls for central heating and wood-fuelled boilers.

"The government will study the judgment carefully and consider next steps," said a government spokesperson.

Dave Snowden, chief executive of the Sustainable Energy Association, accused the EU Commission of 'the most astonishing hypocrisy' and said the ruling was 'perverse.' Snowden added that the EU's decision is, "Contrary to almost every principle and policy created to reduce consumers' energy consumption, cut emissions and help boost economic recovery across the EU."

John Sinfield, Northern Europe managing director for Knauf Insulation, called the ruling 'perverse' and 'nonsensical' and said it was a, "Contradiction where consumption of a valuable resource is rewarded and efficiency penalised."

Pedro Guertler, head of research at the Association for the Conservation of Energy, criticised the European Court of Justice for taking a 'very narrow interpretation' of the VAT directive and said the ruling meant that, "Everything will cost 14% more."

Richard Twinn, policy adviser at the UK Green Building Council, said that the ruling was 'ultimately bad news' for the UK. He added that the ruling would, "Push up the cost of ECO, reduce the measures that can be funded through the Green Deal and could deter people from installing solar PV and heat pumps."

"While it is true, as asserted by the UK, that a policy of housing improvement may produce social effects, the extension of the scope of the reduced rate of VAT to all residential property cannot be described as essentially social," said the European Court of Justice in a statement.

UK: According to Builders Merchant Journal, an open letter to prime minister David Cameron published in the Financial Times on 10 June 2015 warned that a failure to tackle climate change could put the economy at risk, while decisive action could create jobs and boost competitiveness. The letter was sent by 80 UK businesses, including Knauf Insulation, Rockwool, Baxi, Akzonobel and Worcester and Bosch.

The businesses have called on the new administration to:

• Seek a strong global climate deal in Paris in December 2015 that limits temperature rises to below 2°C;

• Set an ambitious 5th carbon budget covering 2028 – 2032 to drive forward UK emissions reductions;

• Establish a long-term framework for investment in the low-carbon economy, giving industry much-needed clarity over what is expected in terms of low-carbon development and boost the confidence of green investors.

"British business is ready to step up. From construction and energy to retail, the best British enterprises know that green growth is the future," said Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) UK chief executive David Nussbaum. "They take on board that it's no longer credible to base a sustainable economy on fossil fuels, so the government should put us on track for a low-carbon world. As we approach international climate talks, Britain should be a global champion for change, but a lack of consistent long-term policies sends a confusing message to business and undermines our attractiveness to investors. The prime minister should send a clear message that the only way forward is a green economy and support forward-looking firms that want to build a clean economy."

UK: Two Sika-Trocal projects were nominated in the single ply category of the NFRC UK Roofing Awards 2015.

At Lancaster and Morecambe College, a Fully Adhered Type SGK membrane was applied by MAC Roofing to re-cover an existing roof as part of a Euro20.6m redevelopment. For the second phase of the project, the renovation of a complex 3000m2 domed roof situated on required a high performance and flexible membrane. Due to the age of the building, the failing felt roof had failed to meet BREEAM requirements and expected U-values.

On a smaller scale, a new-build four bedroom house in Hammersmith, London incorporates a unique roofing solution. Designed to accommodate restrictions on the use of exterior windows in the perimeter wall, the roof included seven pyramids of varying sizes with a vaulted roof light in each section. With such a complex pyramid design, a neat finish around the edges was crucial. The mechanically fixed Sika-Trocal S system proved to be the optimum roofing solution for contractor Ithaca Roofing.

UK: Gloucester-based Advanced Insulation, which manufactures technical coatings and specialised passive fire protection and thermal insulation materials, has acquired Nottinghamshire-based Covertherm Limited, a manufacturer of insulation jackets. Covertherm's range of bespoke thermal insulation jacket and cover solutions will complement Advanced Insulation's range of flexible fire protection jackets.

"At a time when many manufacturers are looking abroad for low-cost production solutions, we're looking to reverse that trend. This acquisition will provide a UK manufacturing base for our ContraFlex range of passive fire insulation jackets, which will now be produced by Covertherm for the UK and export markets," said Advanced Insulation's managing director Andrew Bennion. "It is also an opportunity for Covertherm's own portfolio to be introduced to Advanced Insulation's other jacket manufacturing bases and we expect the company to grow significantly over the next 12 months."

The new UK manufacturing facility adds to already established production plants in the UAE, Kazakhstan and South Korea and will provide increased production capacity that will help to cope with the increasing demand for ContraFlex products.

UK: Two management buyouts (MBOs) at Synbra Group have resulted in the establishment of the UK's largest expanded polystyrene (EPS) producer.

With the financial backing of Mobeus Equity Partners, the management of Styropack and Jablite have successfully completed MBOs. The new company is owned by Richard Lee, the former CEO of Styropack, as well as Ken Hutchins, who now acts as finance director. The two other owners are Wayne Brown, who will oversee operations and Mobeus' John Colley, who has been named chairman.

The new owners have assured customers that business will proceed as usual, adding that they plan to further strengthen the two companies' market share in the future. "We are absolutely determined to grow our new company into a larger, thriving business whose products are always the first choice for insulation and packaging in the UK," said Lee. Styropack produces packaging solutions for the shipping, automotive, pharmaceutical, fishery and gardening segments, while Jablite specialises in the manufacture of EPS insulation.