US: Rockwool has started legal action against the Jefferson County Board of Education (BOE) describing its attempts to stop construction of new mineral wool insulation plant as ‘unlawful.’ Court documents filed by the Danish insulation company allege that the BOE is trying to buy land from Rockwool for a low rate to build a student support centre otherwise it has threatened to appropriate it under US condemnation rules. Rockwool contends that the BOE originally supported the new plant with tax breaks but has since change its mind as local activists have opposed the project.

Rockwool started construction work on its US$150m mineral wool plant at Ranson, West Virginia in mid-2018. Production at the site is scheduled to start in early 2020.

Saudi Arabia: Bawan has completed its acquisition of a 100% stake in Arnon Plastic Industries, a producer of polyethylene and polystyrene insulation and panelling products. It agreed the share acquisition in January 2019 but it was wiring for regulatory approval. Bawan operates in the concrete, wood, metal and electrical industries and the acquisition opens up a new market for the company.

US: The National Insulation Association (NIA) has appointed Dana Vlk as its new president. The new directors and executive committee of the association assumed their positions for the 2019 – 2020 term at the NIA's 64th Annual Convention that took place in Nassau in the Bahamas.

The association’s 2019 – 2020 executive committee includes: Dana Vlk, Distribution International – president; John Lamberton, Irex Contracting Group - president-elect; Dave Cox, Owens Corning – secretary/treasurer; Joe Leo, Atlantic Contracting & Specialties – assistant treasurer; and Dan Bofinger, Specialty Products & Insulation - immediate past president.

US: Canada’s IKO plans to build a new US$70m plant in Hagerstown, Maryland. It will be the company’s sixth US manufacturing location. The 46,000m² plant and warehouse site will be used to manufacture will produce roofing and insulation products including polyisocyanurate insulation. It is scheduled to open in mid-2020.

"Hagerstown is another example of IKO's commitment to building the strongest and most state of the art production network in our industry," said Guy Tremblay, IKO's Vice President of North American Operations.