Germany: Jean-Claude Carlin has been appointed as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Knauf Insulation with effect from 1 February 2017. Carlin is a member of the Knauf Group leadership team having led the Knauf Industries business as Group CEO since 2009. He succeeds Thies Knauf.

Carlin joined Knauf Industries in 2008 after almost 20 years working for Timken, a manufacturer of bearings and mechanical power transmission products. At Timken he held various operations and management positions in Europe, India and the US. Carlin is a French national and has degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Economics. He will be based in Knauf Insulation’s new global headquarters in Visé, Belgium.

Knauf Insulation has also established an Executive Committee that will define and implement the group’s strategy and manage of its operations worldwide. Carlin will be joined on the Executive Committee by David Ducarme, appointed as Group Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Deputy CEO, and Jens Nilsson, Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Belgium: BASF has increased the methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) production capacity to 0.65Mt/yr from 0.56Mt/yr at its Verbund plant in Antwerp. MDI is used to manufacture polyurethanes, which are used in insulation production and other materials.

US: Sika has completed the acquisition of Rmax Operating, a US-based producer of polyiso insulation products, on 31 January 2017. The deal was originally announced in mid-December 2016. Sika has said that the purchase is intended to bolster its presence in North America, particularly in roofing, sealants and waterproofing markets.

UK: Simon Storer has been appointed as the chief executive of the British Rigid Urethane Manufacturers Association (BRUFMA) with effect from 9 January 2017. Previously, Storer was the Head of Communications at BACTA, the trade body representing the British amusement industry. Before this he worked as the External Affairs Director at the Construction Products Association (CPA) for seven years. He has also worked for the architect Levitt Bernstein, Shoreditch New Deal for Communities project and for the Channel Tunnel project during its construction phase.