Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

UK: The government has announced funding of up to Euro1.7bn to retrofit 130,000 social and low income homes in England with energy efficiency measures including insulation. It says that the upgrades will help households save around Euro450 - 800/yr on their energy bills at current prices and funding could support around 19,000 green energy sector jobs. The money will be made available via the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and Home Upgrade Grant schemes.

Local authorities and social housing providers will be able to submit bids for funding and will deliver upgrades from early 2023 until March 2025, building on the more than 30,000 homes already being upgraded under the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and Home Upgrade Grant schemes.

Germany: Ireland-based Kingspan has concluded a deal to acquire mineral wool-based sandwich panels producer Calostat from speciality chemicals company Evonik. Calostat's boards have Cradle to Cradle Gold certification for sustainability and employ a unique moisture management concept.

Kingspan said that the acquisition complements its portfolio and enhances its ability to offer the right type of insulation for every application.

Spain: Ireland-based Kingspan has acquires mineral wool-based sandwich panel producer Invespanel. Invespanel’s panels include extruded polystyrene (XPS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS)-core refrigeration panels, and the company continually develops new sandwich panels for various applications. Invespanel recorded a turnover of Euro11m in 2021.

Kingspan’s Southern Europe insulated panels director Josep Jordan said “The integration of Invespanel into Kingspan is a great opportunity to complement our offerings with customised products for even the most demanding applications. The synergies with the Kingspan group, together with Invespanel's technological know-how and human capital, will be the key tool to drive the growth of our project in Southern Europe.”

France: Saint-Gobain subsidiary Isover has begun construction of a prototype glass wool recycling plant in Chemillé-en-Anjou. Contractor Eiffage Génie Civil is executing the project, which is scheduled for commissioning in 2023.

Isover France and Switzerland technical director Jérôme Saulnier saud "The realisation of this revolutionary industrial prototype with fusion by immersed burners will make it possible to recycle glass wool in industrial quantities, transforming it into cullet. This cullet will be used in the manufacturing process of our insulating products and will also reduce our energy consumption, our carbon emissions and improve the life cycle of our products."

India: Knauf Insulation has donated and installed a 600m² insulative Urbanscape Green Roof at Piala Ashar Alo girls’ primary school in Kolkata, West Bengal. The roof includes a 2cm-thick layer of exposed mineral wool in which plants are able to grow. By retaining up to 47% of rainwater, the roof can help to prevent streets from flooding in the rainy season. Knauf Insulation’s Slovenia-based Urbanscape team supported the installation. The producer says that the renovation will protect learners from summer highs of 40°C and winter lows of 9°C, as well as seasonal dust squalls and downpours.

Head of building science Domen Ivanšek said “The flat surface of the 10cm-thick concrete roof was constantly hot, overheating the rooms below, and it was covered with a latex waterproof layer that was coming to the end of its life. When the school’s head said she wanted to provide the children with a place to learn about gardening and botanical science, it was clear that an Urbanscape Green Roof was the best solution all round.”