Kazakhstan: Ecostroyservice JSC has commissioned a manufacturing line to produce a wide range of insulating concrete products in the Karaganda region of central Kazakhstan. The total investment in the project will be USD1.6m design production capacity is 36,000m³/yr.

"The positive feature of these building materials is low heat conductivity," said Ecostroyservice's Serik Akhmetov at the plant's launch. "Production of special heat insulation materials will allow heat losses to be reduced by 10-20 times," he added.

China/Japan: The first overseas base of Japanese fibreglass producer Asahi Fiber Glass, which was formed in Shanghai in April 2011, will enter full-scale operation at the end of June 2011, supporting the company's goal of developing its business in the high-growth Asian market as well as the domestic market.

The new base will initially focus on supplying the local operations of Japanese companies with imports from Japan and carry out trading functions, under the supervision of manager Manabu Suzuki. In the future it will explore the establishment of local processing bases for thermal-insulation building materials, vacuum insulation materials and automotive sound-absorbing materials through partnerships with Chinese companies and mergers and acquisions.

Asahi Fiber Glass regards China as an ideal foothold for entry into the southern Asian region, where demand is growing for glass wool as a vacuum insulation material and a sound-absorbing material for automobiles. The Chinese market for glass wool has already expanded to more than double the size of the Japanese market and its expansion looks set to continue.

US: Serious Materials has announced that it has changed its name to Serious Energy. The new name reflects the company's suite of advanced building products and energy software services designed to 'increase the value of America's buildings', for both owners and occupants. For building owners, the goal is to increase net operating income. For occupants, the goal is to increase comfort, productivity and health at lower operating costs.

Denmark/Poland: Rockwool International has signed an agreement to acquire FAST s.p. z o.o., a Polish system holder for external facade insulation. In 2010, FAST generated a turnover of USD 16.73m and employed 90 persons. The transaction is expected to close by the end of October 2011.

The acquisition of FAST allows Rockwool to gain access to capabilities within coating and plaster production as well as colouring techniques. In addition, the acquisition will enable Rockwool to expand the use of stone wool solutions and penetrate into the building insulation market.