Russia: TechnoNICOL has announced plans for a third stone wool insulation plant in the eastern Krai of Khabarovsk. The plant will have a production capacity of 400,000m³/yr of stone wool, and will produce thermal and acoustic insulation and technical insulation, including stone wool substrates for use in hydroponic plant cultivation. Together with an on-going upgrade to an existing stone wool insulation plant at the site, the project will cost US$37.6m, AK&M News has reported. Pre-design construction, land leasing and procurement of ‘key equipment’ for the new plant are currently underway, with commissioning scheduled for late 2026. TechnoNICOL then expects to complete the upgrade to the existing plant in 2027.

Japan: Almedio recorded sales of US$13.6m in the first quarter of the 2025 financial year, which began on 1 April 2024. This corresponds to year-on-year growth of 56% from first-quarter levels in the 2024 financial year. The period under review brought increased domestic sales volumes of insulation materials. Almedio’s profit before tax more than tripled, to US$4m, Nikkei Asia News has reported. Nonetheless, the producer now expects to record a decline in sales of 38% and in pre-tax profit of 66% year-on-year in the full 2025 financial year.

Austria: Law firm Schoenherr says that it advised Austrotherm on merger control filings for the latter’s acquisition of the expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation business of building materials producer Brucha. Prior to completion of the deal, Austrotherm employed 1400 people and produces insulation at 26 plants in 12 countries in Central and Southeast Europe and Türkiye.

US: Owens Corning’s sales were US$5.09bn in the first half of 2024, up by 4% year-on-year from US$4.89bn in the first half 2023. The company's adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the period was US$1.31bn, up by 14% from US$1.15bn one year previously.

Chair and CEO Brian Chambers said "Owens Corning delivered another outstanding quarter, generating strong margins and cash flow while completing the acquisition of Masonite and continuing our review of glass reinforcements. Through our talented people and highly valued customer partnerships, we continue to outperform the market as we transform and grow into an even stronger residential and commercial building products company for the future."