Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

South Korea: KCC has signed a memorandum of understanding with the local government in Gimcheon concerning an upgrade to its glass wool plant. The company plans to invest around US$75m on building a second production line at the unit by the end of 2023. The project follows a similar upgrade at the Munmak glass wool plant in 2022.

US: Owens Corning has published its 2022 Sustainability Report, detailing its progress towards its 2030 sustainability goals during 2022. During the year, the insulation producer reduced its CO₂ emissions by 22% compared with 2018 levels, against a 2030 reduction target of 50%. It sourced 56% of its electricity renewably. It achieved this with the help of multiple power purchase agreements (PPA), including for on-site generation. It concluded a new 81.9MW virtual PPA in Spain, which will come online in stages throughout the rest of 2023 and 2024.

Senior vice president and chief sustainability officer David Rabuano said "In 2023 and beyond, sustainability will remain at the heart of our business and a critical value creator for Owens Corning, our customers and other stakeholders. As we shift into the next chapter of our sustainability strategy, we will build on the foundational efforts that have been central to sustainability within our organisation - and with the engagement of our 19,000 employees worldwide, we will take the action needed to reach the next level."

Uzbekistan: Sanoat Energetika Guruhi plans to build an 80,000t/yr low-density polyethylene (PE) plant in Karakul District, Bukhara. The plant will produce low-density PE for use in insulation production, among other applications. Business World Magazine has reported that the plant is part of a 1.34Mt/yr hydrocarbons production complex, called the Methanol to Olefin Gas-Chemical Complex (MTOGCC). The MTOGCC is scheduled for commissioning in 2025, and will operate until 2050. US-based Air Products will be engaged in gas processing at the complex.

Serbia: Hungary-based Masterplast has inaugurated the 150,000m³/yr Subotica insulation plant in Vojovodina. GradSubotica News has reported that the plant will be the first in Serbia to produce extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation. The Hungarian Export Promotion Agency (HEPA) provided 50% of investment in the plant. Masterplast's on-going strategic expansion in Southeast Europe is aimed at making it insulation market leader amid growing demand in the region.

UK/Ireland: Knauf Insulation UK & Ireland has launched ‘OmniFit Slab 32’, a 32 lambda glass mineral wool insulation slab product for use in light steel frame systems (SFS) as part of a rainscreen façade or other external wall build-ups.

Liliya Luke, the Glass Mineral Wool Product Manager at Knauf Insulation, said “We have launched OmniFit Slab 32 to help our customers deliver the low U-values required, without compromising on fire safety, acoustic performance or sustainability.” He added, “Specifiers can now optimise their rainscreen façade systems by adding the benefits of glass mineral wool to their build-up - delivering acoustic performance, and reduced embodied carbon compared to rock-only solutions, with an insulation specification that remains completely non-combustible.”

The new product is primarily designed for use with ‘Rocksilk RainScreen Slab’ when used in rainscreen applications, and is suitable for use in the external wall systems of all residential buildings over 11m tall and relevant residential buildings over 18m tall. It is the latest addition to Knauf Insulation's OmniFit range of glass mineral wool roll and slab products.