Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

France: LafargeHolcim subsidiary LafargeFrance has relaunched its Airium mineral foam, a concrete block additive, for a new application, namely roof insulation. The company says that Airium has a lifespan of 50 years and “retains heat in winter like most insulation, while also preserving buildings’ freshness in summer” thanks to its phase shift time of over nine hours.

Lafarge France developed the new application in partnership with coatings producer PRB. It said, “We select premium applicators (blowers) from suppliers from LafargeHolcim’s screeds and PRB coatings network. The PRB and Airium partnership thus takes on its full meaning and ensures quality service to new users.”

US: Owens Corning’s net sales in the first nine months of 2020 were US$5.13bn, down by 6.6% year-on-year from US$5.47bn in the first nine months of 2019. Loss before interest and tax (LBIT) was US$399m, compared to earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of US$625m. Insulation sales fell by 3% to US$1.88bn from US$1.95bn. However, the company’s sales and earnings picked up in the third quarter of 2020, supported by its roofing division.

Belgium: Knauf Insulation has announced its new sustainability strategy, entitled ‘For A Better World.’ The company says, “The strategy is defined by clear concrete targets for 2025, focussing on four key sustainable goals: Putting People First, Achieving Zero Carbon, Delivering A Circular Economy and Creating Better Buildings.” Its targets include reducing total recordable incident rate from 9.2 to 5.0, reducing the embodied carbon dioxide (CO₂) of products by 15%, investing 10% of general capital expenditure (CAPEX) in new projects to reduce emissions or landfill waste, cutting the carbon footprint of business travel by 25%, reducing virgin plastic packaging by 25%, using more than 25% of external recycled material in mineral wool and more than 65% recycled material in glass wool and sending zero production waste to landfill. Chief executive officer (CEO) Jean-Claude Carlin said, “These clear, concrete short-term targets for 2025 support our long-term commitments in ways that everyone can start achieving now.”

Director of sustainability Vincent Briard said, “Sustainability defines everything we do. Our products save energy, cut emissions and make buildings fit for the future. We have the experience and expertise to ensure all our customers achieve their sustainable ambitions. We are also here to help. We are supporting our customers as they navigate market forces and regulatory landscapes that are increasingly demanding more sustainable building solutions.”

Malaysia: Passive fire protection producer Promat and fibre cement boards producer Kalsi, both subsidiaries of Belgium-based Etex, have rebranded as Etex Malaysia. The company says that the name change “reflects Etex's broader commitment to inspire ways of living through innovation.” PR Newswire Asia has reported that by combining its Malaysian subsidiaries under the Etex Malaysia brand the group aims to strengthen its offerings to local and export Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) markets.

UK: Italy-based Hennecke-OMS says that it has received an order for a 45m/min lamination line for Ballytherm UK’s upcoming 1.2Mm²/yr Herefordshire polyisocyanurate (PIR) and polyurethane (PUR) insulation plant. The plant consists of a continuous foaming line including a 38m double belt conveyor and foaming, mixing and distribution units for the PUR foam inside the two flexible facings, a cross cutting unit, a panel cooling section and stacking and packing equipment. The company said, “The entire plant in a fully automatic cycle and is controlled by a series of electric control panels based on an industrial Siemens S7 PLC and with relevant interface operator panels.”

The supplier added, “The choice of Hennecke-OMS as the supplier for Ballytherm’s second plant confirms the excellent co-operation between supplier and customer, as well as Hennecke-OMS’ leading position in continuous plant technology.”

Installation will commence in October 2020 and Ballytherm plans to commission the line in early 2021. It has future potential for expansion to 70m/min lamination capacity, according to the supplier.