Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

Germany: Evonik Industries is acquiring the Performance Materials Division of Air Products and Chemicals for US$3.8bn. The products it is acquiring from Air Products include ingredients for insulation foams, sun lotion and paint as well as additives to harden aircraft and marine coatings. The transaction is intended to be completed by the end of 2016 subject to approval from relevant competition authorities.

“Evonik is already one of the leading producers of specialty & coating additives. Air Products’ Specialty & Coating Additives business perfectly complements this fast-growing segment. With this acquisition we are expanding our portfolio with precisely the right markets, products and innovations and continuing to invest in our growth and profitability,” said Klaus Engel, chief executive officer of Evonik Industries.

Air Products’ specialty and coating additives business will be integrated into the Nutrition & Care and Resource Efficiency segments of Evonik. The acquisition will also give Evonik a greater presence in North America, diversifying its markets outside of Europe. It also expects to generate savings of up to US$80m/year from the deal by 2020.

US: The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) in California has asserted that polystyrene is not the same as styrene and is not listed by the state as a substance that causes cancer. The OEHHA has added styrene to a list of a list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer for purposes of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65).

"There is sufficient scientific information to demonstrate that the intended uses of these materials are safe,” said the OEHHA. "While free or unreacted styrene may be present in such products, only styrene exposures that pose a significant cancer risk would require a warning." Styrene is used to make expanded polystyrene (EPS) but the substances have different properties. The OEHHA's listing is based on the findings of the 12th edition of the National Toxicology Program's Report on Carcinogens that assesses the potential for risks associated with styrene, primarily in work environments where levels of styrene exposure may be higher.

US: Installed Building Products, an installer of insulation and complementary building products, has purchased Alpine Insulation based in Sheboygan, Wisconsin with five operating locations throughout the state. Alpine provides installation services to the residential and commercial sectors.

"Alpine represents a compelling opportunity for us to enhance our presence in Wisconsin through a complementary business with strong local brands, exceptional customer loyalty and a strong management team. This acquisition brings our total acquired revenue in 2016 to approximately US$44m, as we remain focused on selectively acquiring market-leading installers in highly attractive markets," said Jeff Edwards, chairman and chief executive officer of Installed Building Products.

US: Carpenter Co. has opened a new expanded polystyrene (EPS) plant in Elkhart, Indiana. The new plant will supply the upper Midwest markets. It will be fully operational in March 2016.

"We are excited to expand our effective marketing area into the Midwest area of the country," said Larry King, vice president Insulation Division of Carpenter.

The Elkhart EPS facility will be managed by Richard Thain, who previously worked at the Carpenter EPS plant in Lakeland, Florida. Carpenter currently operates EPS production facilities in Fogelsville, Pennsylvania, High Point, North Carolina and Lakeland, Florida.

US: Albemarle Corporation, a flame retardant manufacturer, and ICL, a specialty chemical company, have announced that they have entered into a long-term agreement for the supply of a polymeric flame retardant. The product is manufactured at ICL's facilities in the Netherlands and in Israel using technology licensed from Dow Global Technologies LLC, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company.

This next generation flame retardant, which is marketed by Albemarle under the brand name GreenCrest and by ICL under the brand name FR122P, is a sustainable alternative for customers transitioning from hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)-based flame retardants currently used by the building industry in extruded polystyrene (XPS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam insulation products. Albemarle will supply ICL with bromine for the production of GreenCrest, associated with the agreement. The agreement is subject to certain conditions precedent, including approval of Israel's Antitrust Authority.

Albemarle and ICL will continue to provide independent marketing, sales and technical service to their respective customers in Europe and around the world to ensure a transition as EPS and XPS producers continue to shift from HBCD to the polymeric flame retardants.

US: Carlisle Construction Materials’ net sales rose by 4.4% year-on-year to US$484m in the fourth quarter of 2015. The building products manufacturer attributed the growth to demand for insulation application and commercial roofing and good weather. It also benefitted from lower raw material costs and improved business practices although this was partially offset by lower selling prices.

Overall, the Carlisle Companies subsidiary reported that its net sales rose by 3.5% year-on-year to US$2bn in 2015 from US$1.94bn in 2014. Its earnings before interest and income taxes rose by 30.6% to US$351m from US$269m.

US: Owens Cornings has reported that net sales for its insulation business rose by 6% year-on-year to US$1.85bn in 2015 from US$1.75bn in 2014. Its earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) rose by 48% to US$160m from US$108m.

Overall, the roofing, insulation and composites manufacturer saw its net sales rise slightly to US$5.35bn in 2015 from US$5.26bn in 2014. Net earnings rose by 46% to US$334m from US$228m.

“Strong operational and commercial execution drove significant earnings growth in all three of our businesses, resulting in the best year of earnings growth in the history of our company,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mike Thaman.

For its insulation business, the company expects revenue growth and margin expansion to be weaker in 2016 than 2015. It noted that its prospects are dependent upon the progression of pricing and volume in the US residential new construction market.

US: The Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) announced that SOPREMA has joined the group as a manufacturing member.

"The addition of SOPREMA to both the polyiso industry and the PIMA family reflects the continuing growth of polyiso as North America's insulation product of choice," said Jared Blum, President PIMA. "SOPREMA's construction industry leadership role is well acknowledged and the PIMA Board of Directors looks forward to the active involvement of the company."

SOPREMA joins PIMA's six manufacturing members: Atlas Roofing, Firestone Building Products, GAF, Hunter Panels, Johns Manville and Rmax.

SOPREMA is an international manufacturer that specialises in the development and production of innovative products for waterproofing, insulation, soundproofing and vegetated solutions for the roofing, building envelope and civil engineering sectors.

"SOPREMA is proud to join PIMA and contribute to the energy performance of buildings and the reduction of greenhouse gases as a manufacturer of high-performance insulation boards," said Richard Voyer, Executive Vice-President and CEO of SOPREMA North America.

US: Kingspan has announced a US$25m investment for its Frederick County, Virginia insulation plant. It plans to add 15 new jobs, buy new equipment and upgrade the facility.

The plant has about 120 employees, according to Ed Bates, a Director of Manufacturing and Technology at Kingspan. "We're moving forward with the project," said Bates. "It's underway and we'll probably complete it in 2017. We've already initiated some hiring and we'll complete the hiring by 2018."

The Frederick County plant is Kingspan's only facility in the US that makes building wraps and insulation. The company, however, has other facilities in North America and around the world.

The uptick in the building industry factored into the expansion, according to Bates. "It's not back at the level it was at its peak in 2006, but we've seen a nice rebound in construction and there's high demand for insulation products due to their energy efficiency," said Bates. "It's a great time to invest."

US: After two years of research and development, DuPont has launched 'an industry first:' insulating housewrap.

"This is arguably the most important introduction in our product group in a long time," said Jim Ash, new Business Development Manager for DuPont, to Remodelling magazine. "It's taking us into the insulation business, which is a big strategic push for us, and hopefully the first of many. All the while, our goal is to help build durable houses and mitigate risk - we haven't deviated from that."

Tyvek Thermawrap R5.0 comprises DuPont's Tyvek housewrap bonded to an insulation blanket. Ash said that Thermawrap R5.0 provides builders with another alternative to insulating homes from the outside. The goal is to offer a net effective R-value of R-5.

DuPont said that the Tyvek on the outside of the blanket works the same as if it was installed on its own by keeping air and bulk water out of walls, but also serves as a breathable barrier allowing moisture vapour to escape to the outside. In addition, DuPont said that the blanket increases the temperature of the sheathing, which decreases the chance for interstitial wall condensation in heating climates. "This reduces the likelihood of getting moisture vapour inside the walls," said Ash.
The insulation blanket is made of proprietary fibres, including 20% pre-consumer recycled Tyvek. The product is available in 4x40ft rolls.