US: Kathy Miks, spray foam Product Manager at Johns Manville, has been elected as the Vice Chair of the Spray Foam Coalition, an organisation of companies that produce and sell polyurethane spray foam insulation systems and the chemicals and equipment necessary for their use. As Vice Chair, Miks will work alongside the organisation’s Chair to lead efforts aimed at educating and promoting spray foam and its benefits. She will serve as Vice Chair through December 2019, and then transition to the position of Chair through 2021.

Miks is an accomplished industry professional, bringing more than 18 years of experience to the role. In her current position as Product Manager, Miks oversees the spray polyurethane foam and polyiso wall system portfolios for the Johns Manville Building Insulation division. In addition to her full-time role with Johns Manville and new responsibilities with the Spray Foam Coalition, Miks is on the steering committee for the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association. Miks holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.

The Spray Foam Coalition was founded in 2010 by the American Chemistry Council’s Center for the Polyurethanes Industry to promote the use of spray polyurethane foam and its benefits in US applications, provide a forum for helping shape public policy and support the safe manufacture, transport and application of the product.

Azerbaijan/Georgia: TechnoNicol plans to increase its mineral wool exports to Azerbaijan and Georgia from Russia by 30% year-on-year in 2019, according to the Trend News Agency. Mineral wool production at its Krasny Sulin plant in Russia increased by 6% year-on-year to 1.5Mm3 in 2018 due to growing exports.

Belgium: Record earnings from Recticel’s insulation business have lifted the company’s financial performance in 2018. Adjusted earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) rose by 13.2% year-on-year to Euro38.1m in 2018 from Euro33.7m in 2017. Overall, its adjusted EBIT fell by 4.8% from Euro63.3 from Euro66.5. Sales from its insulation division fell slightly to Euro244m.

“2018 has been a challenging year for Recticel, in a context of very soft European bedding and furniture demand since the spring, and of declining automotive demand in Europe and Asia since the summer. Thanks to the all-time high results of our Insulation division, the company has managed to hold the Adjusted EBITDA (-1.6%) in line with the level of last year,” said chief executive officer (CEO) Olivier Chapelle.

The foam products producer said that it had increased its stake in Turvac, a Slovenian producer of vacuum insulation panels, to 74% from 50% in early 2019. The company operates a plant in Šoštanj.

Ireland: Kingspan’s revenue grew by 19% year-on-year to Euro4.37bn in 2018 from Euro3.67bn in 2017. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 18% to Euro521m from Euro442m. Insulated panels sales rose by 21% to Euro 2.82bn due to good sales in the Americas and Europe. Insulation boards sales grew by 12% to Euro 864m due to the group’s acquisition of Synthesia Insulation in Spain, on-going growth of its Kooltherm product and general market buoyancy.

“2018 was a year of strong growth for Kingspan, with the company delivering revenues of over Euro4bn for the first time. Performance has been robust in most of our major markets, and momentum has improved through the year,” said Gene M Murtagh, chief executive of Kingspan.