Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

France: Saint-Gobain’s net profit in 2019 was Euro1.45bn, up by 207% year-on-year from Euro474m in 2018. Its net sales were Euro42.6bn, up by 1.9% from Euro41.8bn in 2018. Saint-Gobain chairman CEO Pierre-André de Chalendar praised the year’s performance in spite of a ‘less supportive market environment in the second half.’ He said, “For 2020, in a more uncertain market environment, Saint-Gobain should continue to benefit from its attractive positioning and from the results of its ‘Transform & Grow’ initiative, and is targeting a further like-for-like increase in operating income with an uncertainty about the impact of the coronavirus.”

US: Huntsman has reorganised its spray polyurethanes foam (SPF) insulation business, combining subsidiaries Demilec and Icyene-Lapolla under a new leadership team. The company has named as divisional presidents Simon Baker, who will oversee operations in Canada and fast-growing global markets, and Doug Kramer, who will be responsible for the United States. Huntsman polyurethanes president Tony Hankins said, “To bring the two businesses together as one enables Huntsman to provide an unmatched offering of open- and closed-cell insulation products and accelerates the globalisation of our SPF platform.”

Germany: Evonik has announced the release of a new Calostat silicon dioxide-based mineral insulation panel. Evonik technical sales manager Oliver Jung says that the panel, which is cut to 500mm x 200mm, is ‘an ideal option where space is limited.’

Denmark/Canada: Rockwool has announced the retirement of long-standing North America regional president Trent Ogilvie and thanked him ‘for the successes he helped create in the North American business’ over his 25 years in the post. The company employed 60 people at a single facility in the region in Toronto, Canada, when Ogilvie took over as president in 1995. Its four facilities in Canada and the US now employ 1000 people and make sales of hundreds and millions of US Dollars.

Rockwool’s fifth stone wool production line, located in West Virginia, is due to open in early 2021.

Germany: Knauf Insulation has announced the 11 winners of its Leadership Awards at its Leadership Conference 2020 on 6 February in Iphofen, Bavaria. Winners came from Knauf’s sales, customer service, human resources, retail and finance divisions across all its operating regions. Knauf Insulation Group human resources director Patrice Briol said, “Our award-winners demonstrate leadership qualities and live the Knauf Values every day.”