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Superglass reports cost savings on track amidst sales pressure
Written by Global Insulation staff
14 January 2013
UK: Superglass Holdings plc, a Stirling, Scotland-based manufacturer of glass fibre insulation, has reported in an interim management statement covering 1 September 2012 to 14 January 2013 that the first phase of Project Phoenix, its capital investment programme, remains on budget and is on track for completion during the first half of 2013.
Estimated annualised cost savings from the programme have increased from Euro4.33m to Euro6.02m, with the first full year of savings expected in 2013-2014. The increase in savings is mainly due to the installation of new fiberising technology. One of the company's newly installed production lines is now running at full capacity and the second line scheduled to be upgraded in the spring of 2013. However, upgrading each line will incur 'significant' costs as a result of six weeks production downtime.
Sales volumes for the period have been steady but a stronger than anticipated demand for volume commodity products has had a negative impact on average sales prices. Overall market conditions are also affecting prices. Input costs have remained under pressure, particular as energy costs continue to rise.
Superglass remains cautious about the UK Green Deal and it continues to work on broadening its routes to market. Volumes are likely to reduce with potentially slow start-up of the Green Deal scheme.
New senior VP for Paroc Group
Written by Global Insulation staff
09 January 2013
Finland: The Finnish insulation firm Paroc has announced that Joakim Westerlund, aged 34, was appointed to the position of Senior Vice President for base production and as a member of the group's management team at the start of 2013. Westerlund has worked for Paroc since February 2008, working for its base division since the spring of 2012. He graduated as a doctor of Science in Technology from Åbo Akademi University in 2005.
"Westerlund is a genuine and skilful leader whom colleagues and subordinates respect, especially for his ability to motivate and inspire members of his team. Joakim is also known as an analytical and logical thinker whose strong strategic ability comes from thoroughly familiarising himself with issues. He brings an excellent addition to the Paroc Management Team," said Paroc Group CEO, Kari Lehtinen.
Johns Manville stays in downtown Denver
Written by Global Insulation staff
03 January 2013
US: After exploring a number of options, building products manufacturer Johns Manville (JM) has signed a new 12-year lease for its global headquarters in the JM Plaza building in downtown Denver, beginning January 2013.
The decision to remain at JM Plaza involved a thorough evaluation of the economics and employee and business logistics of several locations, including alternate sites downtown and in the Denver Technical Center.
"There were several excellent choices in the Denver metro area where we could conduct our headquarters operations," said Mary Rhinehart, JM president and CEO. "However, at the end of the day, our current location provided the greatest benefit across all of the factors we considered."
First sustainability report published by Paroc Group
Written by Global Insulation staff
21 December 2012
Finland: Paroc Group, a major supplier of insulation to the baltic market, has published its first sustainability report, which covers 2009 to 2011. The indicators presented in the report are tools for measuring and following Paroc's sustainable progress in all its production facilities in Finland, Sweden, Poland and Lithuania.
"Sustainability is a factor which strongly influences the development and renewal of our business because our products play a significant role in improving the energy efficiency of buildings," said Paroc Group's CEO, Kari Lehtinen. "We operate in an energy-intensive industry so the ecological efficiency and waste recyclability provide additional savings while minimising the burden on the environment and thus contributing to our common wellbeing."
Paroc considers its most important goals for the coming years to involve increasing the energy efficiency of its production facilities and reaching the occupational safety target of zero accidents by 2020.
At all of Paroc's production plants, processes operate according to the current regulations and standards. Beatrice Rantanen, Paroc Group's Sustainability Manager, emphasised that its production facilities in Finland and Sweden depend almost solely on green energy and that 75% of Paroc's waste is recycled.
"High-quality heat insulation is the most effective and inexpensive way to affect the energy efficiency of new buildings. The benefits will be emphasised even more when Europe shifts to zero-energy building by the year 2020," added Lehtinen.
Global Insulation recognised Paroc's attention to environmental effects in 2012, awarding the company the Global Insulation Company of the Year award at the Global Insulation Conference & Exhibition in Riga, Latvia in September 2012.
China relaxes restrictions on use of building insulation materials
Written by Global Insulation staff
17 December 2012
China: China's Ministry of Public Security has announced that it will cease restrictions on certain insulation materials that were previously recognised as flammable materials, according to the website of the ministry's Fire Department. Polyurethane will become the biggest beneficiary of the relaxation to the existing rules. According to analysts, China's annual building insulation materials market capacity may reach US$16bn by the end of 2015.