Saudi Arabia: Building Component Solutions Co. (BCOMS) has earned the FM Approvals Class 4480 certificate of compliance from FM Approvals for the company’s metal-faced, combustible core, interior wall/ceiling and exterior wall assembly building panels, as well as the FM Approvals Class 4471 certification for BCOMS insulated roof panels.

FM Standard 4480 evaluates insulated wall or wall and roof/ceiling panels, interior finish materials or coatings, and exterior wall systems for their performance with regard to fire resistance. BCOMS also gained FM Standard 4471 approval for the performance of metal roof panels. FM Approvals is a provider of testing and certification to determine product compliance with industry standards for hazardous locations and product performance.

“We are extremely proud to receive the FM Approvals certification, which assures customers that our products have been objectively tested and conform to international standards,” said Nasri Majzoub, general manager of BCOMS.

BCOMS is a supplier of sandwich panels based in Saudi Arabia, producing more than 1.5Mm^₂/yr of sprayed polyisocyanurate (PIR) foam and mineral wool sandwich panels. Its export markets include the Middle East, North Africa and Asia.

UK: Chris Lea, Finance Director, is to leave Superglass on a date still to be agreed, but no later than 30 June 2016. A search process for a new Finance Director is underway and in the interim period, Lea will continue to be employed on a full-time basis until his effective date of departure is confirmed. Lea joined the Stirling-based company in December 2013. He helped to institute the turnaround strategy and refinancing of the company in October 2014.

China: Evonik has started building a plant to produce organically modified specialty silicones in Shanghai. The project is part of a global investment initiative that started with the construction of a first expanded production plant in Essen, Germany that became operational in late 2014. The new facility is being constructed at the Multi-User-Site (MUSC) in the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park, with completion planned for mid-2017. No exact figure for the high double-digit million Euro project was specified.

"We want to expand our specialty silicones production capacities in Asia to serve the rising demand with local production.” That is why we are enlarging our production capacities in this region," said Klaus Engel, the chairman of the Evonik Executive Board.

UK: Superglass has reported that its sales volumes have fallen by 2% in the half year to the end of February 2016. No exact figures were provided in the trading statement. Selling prices have increased by 4% year-on-year in the period due to a reduction in production capacity. Its expected unaudited earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) loss was approximately Euro0.65m, an improvement of Euro1.81m from the prior year.

The mineral wool producer also reported that its new blowing wool solution for new build housing, Superwhite 34, has gained ‘traction’ in the market. A number of national and regional contractors stock and install the British Board of Agrément certified product.