Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

France: Saint-Gobain’s sales were Euro25.5bn in the first half of 2022, up by 15% year-on-year from the same period in 2021. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 13% to Euro3.68bn. Sales rose by 15% in Northern Europe, by 14% in Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa, by 17% in the Americas and by 30% in Asia-Pacific. The producer ends the period with a net debt of Euro8.3bn, up by 9.2% from Euro7.6bn.

Chief executive officer (CEO) Benoit Bazin said, “Over the coming quarters, we are ready to adapt as needed to the consequences of rising interest rates and inflation along with the geopolitical and energy situation in Europe. Each country CEO has designed action plans, focusing especially on margins and cash flow. In this more uncertain environment, our target is to continue to outperform our markets and our deep transformation will enable us to demonstrate greater resilience. Over the past three years, our teams have successfully risen to the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, supply chain disruptions and a strong inflationary environment. With portfolio rotation of almost Euro10bn in sales since the end of 2018, and with a local organisation keenly aware of immediate realities on the ground, Saint-Gobain has significantly increased its value creation. Against this backdrop, I am confident in the group’s 2022 outlook, which targets a further increase in operating income compared to 2021 at constant exchange rates.”

US: Owens Corning’s first-half sales were US$4.95bn in 2022, up by 19% year-on-year from US$4.15m in 2021. It increased its insulation sales by 16% year-on-year to US$934m. The producer recorded adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of Euro1.2bn, up by 24% from US$929m.

Switzerland: Holcim increased its consolidated sales by 17% year-on-year to US$15.3bn in the first half of 2022 from US$13.1bn in the first half of 2021. Its recurring earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) were US$2.26bn, up by 9.6% from US$2.06bn. Solutions and products sales grew by 84% to US$2.72bn from US$1.48bn and accounted for 18% of group sales, compared to 8% of its full-year 2020 sales. The group’s operating profit rose by 15% to US$2.15bn from US$1.86bn, while its net debt rose by 7.5% to US$13.9bn from US$12.9bn.

Holcim called market conditions “volatile,” but forecast net sales growth of 10% year-on-year on in 2022, upgraded from 8%. The group forecast double-digit net sales growth in its Solutions and Products division to US$5.2bn for the year. It also expects to end the year with accelerated progress towards its 2025 sustainability targets, positive growth in its recurring EBIT and a free cash flow above US$3.12bn.

Chief executive officer Jan Jenisch said “Our record results, from net sales to recurring EBIT and earnings per share, are setting solid foundations to deliver our Strategy 2025 - Accelerating Green Growth. Our roofing and insulation businesses stood out as growth engines, on track to reach pro-forma net sales of US$3.64bn in 2022.”

UK: Denmark-based Rockwool has launched its NyRock stone wool technology in the UK. The insulation producer says that the new product offers the “lowest lambda stone wool insulation available in the UK.” It is manufactured using a new patented production process and offers a thermal conductivity as low as 0.032W/mK. One of its key features is that it can deliver better insulation with comparatively thinner constructions compared to similar products. It also offers the usual benefits of stone wool insulation including durability, recyclability, acoustic properties and fire resistance. NyRock technology will be rolled out across a range of Rockwool insulation products during 2022.

South Korea: KCC Corporation is upgrading its Gimcheon and Munmak glass wool plants. A second production line is being built at the Gimcheon plant in Gyeongbuk and the production capacity of the existing production line is being increased at the Munmak plant in Gangwon-do. The upgrade projects will be completed in October and March 2023 respectively. Once finished the combined projects will increase the company’s total production of glass wool by 80,000t/yr.

KCC says that it is making the investment in inorganic insulation production capacity in response to revisions to local building regulations. It added that the law was changed in 2021 due to several fire-related incidents. The upgrades are also expected to reduce production costs per unit.