Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

US: IDI Distributors, a wholesale insulation distributor, has acquired Kevin Distributing (KDI), a distributor of polyurethane spray foam insulation and related services, to operate as a division of IDI. The purchase will broaden IDI’s geographic coverage to the mountain states and expand both distributors’ product portfolios and service capabilities. The KDI division of IDI will be led by Dan Bitney, branch manager of KDI. IDI will also bring the KDI management team on board to maintain continuity with customers.

US: The Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association International (RIMA-I) has elected four new directors following its autumn meeting in 2016. Lynn Walters of STS Coatings, Doug Kinninger of Fi-Foil Company, Peter Highfill of Oracle Packaging (LL Flex) and Sergio Luconi of Prodex (Costa Rica) have all been appointed directors for a two-year term starting on 1 January 2017. RIMA-I is a trade organisation that represents the reflective insulation, radiant barrier, and low-e reflective coatings industries.

Germany: Evonik Industries has completed its acquisition of the specialty additives business, Performance Materials Division, of the US company Air Products for Euro3.5bn. All relevant competition authorities have approved the transaction and the integration of the acquired business is underway. The transaction financing was completed successfully in September 2016. It has been paid for by the company’s own funds to the amount of Euro1.6bn with the excess Euro1.9bn covered by bonds.

"The successful completion of the acquisition paves the way for swiftly merging the activities of Evonik and the acquired units of the Air Products Performance Materials business," said Klaus Engel, Chairman of the Executive Board of Evonik Industries AG. "It puts Evonik in an excellent position for further profitable growth in the attractive specialty additives market."

Brazil/Finland: Saint-Gobain Isover has obtained Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for its products in Brazil and Finland. It has obtained five EPDs in Brazil where it has become the first insulation company in the country to obtain EPDs registered with Environdec. In Finland it has published three new verified EPDs through the Norwegian EPD platform EPD Norge.

US: Honeywell has filed legal action against MEK Chemical for selling HFC-245fa in the US, an alleged violation of a Honeywell process patent. The liquid blowing agent used in the production of foam insulation, is manufactured by Honeywell under the brand name Enovate, according to ICIS.