UK: Jablite, the UK's leading manufacturer of expanded polystyrene insulation products, has appointed Silo, a new design studio, as 'designers-in-residence' at its Belvedere manufacturing site in east London. This unlikely relationship between an insulation manufacturer and the pair of designers, both MA graduates from the Royal College of Art, is taking both parties in unexpected and exciting directions.

"We were very impressed when we saw Silo's final degree show pieces made from EPS that we had given them," said Richard Lee, Managing Director at Jablite. "They were looking for sponsors to help them set up a studio. Instead of cash, we offered them studio space on our site." Jablite was keen to offer the pair a 'residency.'

"This is not something Jablite has ever done before but we are changing the way we work," said Lee. "Innovation of our products and operations is now central to our way of doing business and taking on Silo seemed an interesting step for us and them."

Through a process of trial and error, Silo has developed a new variant of EPS called 'Not So Expanded Polystyrene' (NSPS) and they have created some extraordinary and beautiful pieces with it, using handmade textile moulds.

"For us, the relationship with Jablite is a great opportunity. We can see how Jablite manufactures, the high standards it works to and the pressure of making quality products in large volumes to order and we can learn from that," said Oscar Wanless, one half of Silo. "Our aim is to use the same material and processes, but in an entirely new way, in a way that enables us to find new potential in a familiar material."

"Our challenge was to change the material properties to create a more durable, rigid and structural material that people will want to use and keep," added Silo's Attua Aparicio.

Finland/Lithuania: Paroc, which makes insulation materials, has given notice to 17 people in its financial administration departments at four locations in Finland. The company said that it will now concentrate its financial administration in Lithuania, where it will establish a service centre.

Paroc said that the move was not about looking for a country with cheaper labour, but about the need to concentrate employees in one location. Paroc operates in 13 countries and has manufacturing in Finland, Sweden, Lithuania and Poland.

Ukraine: Knauf Insulation Ukraine has announced that it intends to increase its share of the Ukrainian fibreglass market to 35% in 2012. The company's 2011 market share was 30%.

"In 2012 the company expects that the thermal insulation materials' market will keep developing and Knauf Insulation Ukraine plans to shore up its position and occupy at least one-third of the fibreglass insulation segment," said company director Andrii Pavlik.

In the long-run the company intends to further develop the Ukranian market and advertise the benefits of the material to Ukrainian consumers. In the future the company intends to open its own heat insulation production plants in Ukraine, but this plan is currently on hold due to the economic downturn. The company has long-established plans for a production site in Fastiv, Kyiv Region, obtaining all necessary permits for the project.

"The economic downturn adjusted the development of Ukraine's construction sector and, consequently, our plans for realisation of the project. As soon as the construction industry demonstrates stable growth I think we will be able to begin building our factory," Pavlik said.

US: CalStar Products has appointed Joel Rood as its new CEO. Rood's experience includes senior roles at industry leaders in the gypsum wallboard, insulation and fiber-cement industries. CalStar develops and manufactures sustainable masonry products that reduce the energy and carbon footprint of the built environment.

Prior to joining CalStar, Rood was General Manager for CertainTeed Canada. Earlier, he was the general manager of the Southern US Division at James Hardie Corp. "We're thrilled to have Joel joining us," said CalStar Products Chairman Paul Holland. "Joel's executive skills, strong core values and record of managing growth and innovation across the building products industry make him the perfect fit to lead CalStar as we scale-up the business."