Bosnia & Herzegovina: Belgium-based insulation producer Krautz-Temax is expanding its production facilities in Orasje, Bosnia & Herzegovina, according to that country’s Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA). Krautz-Temax will soon launch the construction of new facilities on 20,000m2 of land, which will triple its production capacities in the country once completed. The company currently employs over 60 people in Orasje and plans to increase its workforce once the new production facilities are built.

Krautz-Temax first came to Bosnia & Herzegovina in 2015. The company's Bosnian manufacturing facility is equipped with specially-developed machinery to manufacture and process its unique Temax insulation. It plans to also start making extruded polystyrene in the country from the new facilities being installed.

US: Johns Manville has been named ‘Supplier of the Year’ for 2017 by Insulate America, an insulation contractor association. The award recognises companies for the overall value they provide to the organisation through technical expertise, customer support and lead referrals. Johns Manville has previously won the prize in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017.

“At a time marked by heightened competitive pressure, Johns Manville has demonstrated an unparalleled level of dedication and commitment to Insulate America. We are proud to recognize them yet again with this award,” said Insulate America President and chief executive officer (CEO) David Beam.

Insulate America is a cooperative group of locally owned, independent insulation contractors that provide and install insulation and other building products for residential and commercial construction. It is the largest independent insulation contracting organisation in the US with over 200 locations across the nation. Representatives from each of the locations vote on the ‘Supplier of the Year’ award.

France: Two workers have been seriously injured by an explosion at Soprema’s Saint-Julien-du-Sault polyurethane insulation plant in Yonne. A third worker was also injured in the accident, according to Le Monde newspaper. An external company was carrying out work at the site when the incident occurred. Sparks from a grinder are believed to have caused a holding tank to explode.

US: Johns Manville has released its sixth sustainability report covering 2016 – 2017. The insulation and building materials producer says that it reduced its greenhouse gas emission intensity by 2.5%. It added that it has attained its goal to implement environmental management systems in all of its of North American and European plants three years early and had developed product category Environmental Product Declarations for its heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and mechanical insulation materials. It also decreased its lost time incident rate by more than 50% in the reporting period.