Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

US: Michael Darr has been appointed as the operations manager of Firestone Building Products’ plant in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He previously worked as the plant manager for Bridgestone’s tyre plant in Wilson, North Carolina, according to the Wilson Daily Times newspaper. Firestone, a subsidiary of Bridgestone, purchased Gaco Western, a producer of insulation and roofing products, in April 2017 including the Waukesha site.

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.